Plan Ahead
Hours of Operation | The Conservatory is open seven days a week, all year round, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Regular hours are 10am–5pm but different hours may be in effect during Special Engagements (Pumpkins Aglow, Conservatory Aglow, Chihuly Nights, etc.).
Visitor Parking | Free parking is available in the paved parking lots (A & B) just east of the main Conservatory building and in the Wells Barn parking lot. The parking lots are accessible from E. Broad Street. Please remember not to leave unsecured valuables in your vehicle and always lock your doors.
If the Conservatory is busy, parking lots may fill up quickly. Security will be on hand to direct traffic on busy days/nights. Additional parking is available within Franklin Park at the Adventure Center, on Conservatory Drive and Broad Street, but it is a greater distance from the main entrance. Any guests with mobility challenges can be dropped off in the bus loop right outside the main entrance.
Ticketing | Reserving tickets before visiting is encouraged but not required. Reserving tickets in advance makes the check in experience efficient and guarantees your visit during your preferred date and time. Please arrive with your reservation cued on your phone or printed.
- Special Engagements (Pumpkins Aglow, Conservatory Aglow, Chihuly Nights, etc.) require separate admission tickets from General Admission.
- Tickets cannot be reserved on the first Sunday of the month as these are Community Days. Please check in at the Visitors Center.
- Patron, Benefactor and Monarch Society members receive free General Admission and Special Engagement admission.
Admission Prices | Cost of admission includes access to the main Conservatory building, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden and The Grand Mallway. Exhibitions are included in the admission price.
- $4 General Admission and Special Engagement tickets are available for SNAP, EBT, WIC and Medicaid participants. Access Members also qualify for $4 Special Engagement tickets. Learn more.
- The first Sunday of each month is Community Day. The Conservatory is free for residents of Franklin County and the City of Columbus (with valid ID) during General Admission. Tickets cannot be reserved in advance on these dates. Non-residents can still attend but will be required to pay admission.
- There are a number of additional Access Offerings available to ensure the Conservatory is an inclusive and accessible facility.
- The Conservatory is part of the Reciprocal Admissions Program by the American Public Gardens Association, and offers free or discounted admission to members of participating gardens. This includes free General Admission and half-off Special Engagements (Chihuly Nights, Pumpkins Aglow, Conservatory Aglow).
- Reciprocal Admission tickets must be reserved in person at the Visitor Center.
- Dawes Arboretum, Cox Arboretum Metropark, Kingwood Center Gardens, Ohio State University Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Garden and Wegerzyn Gardens Foundation are within the 90-mile exclusion zone. Members at these locations do not qualify for Reciprocal Admissions.
- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus in Franklin Park is operated by the Conservatory and is always free for visitors.
Admission Discounts | Several discounts are available for qualifying individuals. Please see a staff member at the Visitor Center for assistance reserving tickets with these discounts.
- AAA members: $1 off each adult ticket, $0.50 off each child ticket
- Active or Retired Service Members: $1 off each ticket (any age)
- Columbus Member Advantage: $3 off admission tickets for members of select Columbus institutions
Only Conservatory-authorized discounts and coupons will be accepted. Discounts and coupons acquired from third parties may not be valid.
Payment Options | The Conservatory’s Visitor Center, Garden Café and Botanica Gift Shop & Greenhouse accept cash and all major credit cards.
Photography & Video Policy | Portrait and/or organized photo shoots require registration and pre-payment with the Event Sales Department. Portrait photos include, but are not limited to, graduation photos, engagement photos, maternity photos, formal dance photos, family photos or wedding photos. 48-hour notice is required. On weekdays, please contact [email protected], or call (614) 715-8100 and allow up to 24 hours for a response from Event Sales. For assistance on weekends, call our Visitor Center at (614)-715-8000.
A reservation and fee is required for all portrait photography including Engagement, Senior, Graduation, Homecoming, Prom, Maternity and Family Photo Shoots. The Fee is $150 per session and is limited to one hour. Two individuals plus your photographer are permitted. Additional individuals will need to be approved and fees apply. (The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden is not available for Portrait Photography at this time.)
Complimentary Engagement photos are offered to couples who book their weddings at the Conservatory. Read the full Photography & Video Policy here.
Accessibility | We strive to make the Conservatory and our programs accessible to all. Please review the Conservatory’s accessibility information and Access Offerings.
Visitor Translation | Visitor translation for general information, access offerings and maps are available for languages: አማርኛ /Amharic, العربية/Arabic, Français/French, नेपाली/Nepali and Español/Spanish. Learn More.
Wheelchairs | The Conservatory building and its grounds are accessible with the use of ramps, elevators and paved pathways. A limited number of wheelchairs are available for guest use on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be checked out free of charge at the Visitor Center. Guests with mobility issues should consider bringing their own wheelchair/scooter to ensure they are able to experience the Conservatory.
Pets | Only Service Animals are permitted at the Conservatory. All other pets are not permitted at the Conservatory, including in the outdoor areas.
Weather | Refunds are not available due to inclement weather but tickets can be rescheduled. Central Ohio weather can vary, but the climate in the Conservatory’s temperature-controlled biomes remains consistent, making the main Conservatory building accessible all year round. In cases of inclement weather (heavy snowfall, thunderstorms, etc.) some outdoor spaces will not be accessible. Check the Plan A Visit page for closure alerts.
Nursing Pod | This nursing pod provides a space for mothers who would like to nurse or pump in private. As a reminder, mothers are welcome to nurse anywhere at the Conservatory. This amenity is located in the Concourse. This secure and welcoming space helps make dignified, comfortable and peaceful nursing a reality for all Conservatory visitors who need it.
Strollers | Strollers are allowed throughout the Conservatory with the exception of the Cardinal Health Gallery, the Gift Shop, the Garden Café, and the Hot Shop. There will be designated stroller parking outside of the Hot Shop and within the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden. Stroller parking is limited and the Conservatory reserves the right to deny strollers in the Children’s Garden on high visitation days. If staff notices strollers blocking paths, in seating areas or in planting beds, they reserve the right to move the stroller to an appropriate location within reason.
Prohibited Items | The following items are not permitted on Conservatory property.
- Weapons, Knives, Firearms, etc.
- Tripods and Commercial Camera Equipment
- Folding Chairs
- Beach Balls and Pool Toys
- Bikes, Scooters and Rollerblades
- Coolers
- Party Decorations include balloons, streamers, confetti, etc.
- The public picnic areas in Franklin Park are available for small gatherings on a first-come-first-served basis.
Recommended Items | The following items may enhance your Conservatory experience.
- Towel and water-safe clothes
- With the addition of the Sandstone Creek and Misting Boulders water features in the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Gardens, kids may get wet during your visit. Children must wear swim diapers and appropriate clothes for getting wet.
- Sunscreen
- Bottled water and light snacks (crackers or chips, juice boxes, etc.). Glass containers are not permitted in the Children’s Garden.
Exiting | Departing guests may depart through the doors by the Visitor Center.
