Travel Information

Arrival in Oberlin

The town of Oberlin, Ohio (population 8,600) is 35 miles southwest of Cleveland and is easily accessible by car, plane, bus or train. Please arrange to arrive in Oberlin on either Friday, August 22, or Saturday, August 23. The International Student Orientation program begins on Saturday evening with a welcome dinner and continues for two days on August 24 and 25. Because of the early start of international student orientation, you qualify as "early arrival" students and you have special permission to move into your dorm room earlier than the other students. Please try not to arrive in Oberlin before August 22. If your arrival before August 22 is unavoidable, please contact the Office of International Students as soon as possible for special arrangements.

Please complete the pink Travel and Arrival Information Form that you received with your I-20 mailing. Please mail or fax this form back to us as soon as possible so that we can plan for your arrival.

Many of you will be arriving by plane, and will probably be landing at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, about 25 miles east of Oberlin.

Transportation options from Hopkins airport to Oberlin

Lorain County Transit (LCT ) LCT is a bus system serving all of Lorain County. The LCT Route 33 bus is a convenient and cheap way to get to Oberlin from Hopkins airport. The cost is $7 (exact change only) per person/one way. For information, call 440-328-2490 or 440-244-6261, ext. 2490. To check the latest bus schedules, go to www.LorainCountyTransit.com.

Hopkins Transportation Services This service does not have a fixed schedule; you must call them at least 48 hours in advance or make a reservation online. Call toll free 1-800-543-9912 or go to their website at www.gohopkins.com for special times and rates.

Taxi

Taxi rates vary between 40 and 60 US dollars for a one-way trip from the airport to Oberlin. Here are some taxi companies and their phone numbers:

Safe and Reliable Cab Company         440-288-8294   

A2 Point B Taxi                                          440-775-7222

West Side Town Car                                440-647-4500 or 216-789-9600

Directions for Driving to Oberlin

Oberlin is located at the junction of Ohio Route 58 and Ohio Route 511. You can use the directions listed below or visit www.mapquest.com for personalized directions. You can also go to the Oberlin College website at www.oberlin.edu/visitor for more information.  

From the South: Take I-71 North to the Rt. 250 Ashland/Wooster exit 186. Go east (right) on US Route 250 to Ohio Route 89. Go north (left) on 89 (towards Polk, at bottom of big hill) two miles after exiting. Rt. 58 joins Rt. 89, continue on Rt. 58 north, which will take you into town.

From the East (I-480): Follow I-480 west to the Oberlin/Norwalk Exit for Ohio Route 10 (exit is to the left). Rt. 10 becomes Rt. 20. The Oberlin exit (Ohio Route 511 West) takes you into town.

From the East (I-80):   Take I-80 west to exit 140 (Amherst-Oberlin interchange). Go south (left) on State Route 58. S.R. 58 takes you into town.

From the West:   Take I-80/90 to exit 140 (Amherst-Oberlin Interchange). Go south (left) on State Route 58. S.R. 58 takes you into town.

Other means of transportation to Oberlin

Train:   Amtrak – Call toll free 1-800-USA-RAIL or go to www.amtrak.com . The nearest Amtrak station is at 410 E. River Rd in Elyria. The station is 20 minutes away from Oberlin.

Buses:   Greyhound – Call toll free 1-800-231-2222 or go to www.greyhound.com . The nearest Greyhound bus station is in Elyria; the phone number there is 440-322-0000. The Cleveland bus station number is 216-781-0520. This station is 40 minutes away from Oberlin. Taxes are available at both locations.