Flying with kids through John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) is about as low-stress as airports get: one compact terminal, short walks, and family-friendly dining in every concourse. The airport’s official family amenities center on nursing rooms and thoughtful basics — here is what’s confirmed, plus practical tips for traveling with children through CMH.
Nursing Rooms and Family-Friendly Facilities
- Nursing rooms – CMH provides dedicated nursing rooms both pre-security and post-security, listed among the airport’s official amenities on flycolumbus. Comfortable, private spaces for nursing mothers.
- Water bottle filling stations – Available in each concourse, so you can refill kids’ water bottles after clearing security instead of buying drinks airside.
- Family restrooms – Companion-care/family restrooms are available in the terminal, useful when you’re wrangling multiple kids and luggage.
- SmarteCarte luggage carts – Available in the parking garage, at curbside, and in baggage claim. They cost $6 per cart, with $0.25 refunded when you return the cart — worth it with kids and car seats in tow.
Dining Options Kids Will Enjoy
Every concourse has at least one kid-friendly option:
- Donatos (Concourses A and C) – Pizza is the universal kid food, and Columbus’s famous thin-crust is open 6 a.m. to last departure.
- Auntie Anne’s – Pretzel nuggets and stix are perfect for small hands and short attention spans.
- Burger King – The classic kid-safe fallback, with self-order kiosks so you don’t queue with a restless child.
- Chili’s – The official airport site describes it as family-friendly, serving Tex-Mex and American fare.
- Jeni’s Ice Creams (vending, throughout the airport) – Columbus’s beloved ice cream brand in grab-and-go cups — a high-impact bribe for good behavior at security.
- PeppTron (near Hangar 815) – Donatos’ pizza robot that assembles and bakes a 10-inch pizza in about five minutes behind a viewing window. The process itself is entertainment for kids.
For the full food lineup, see our CMH restaurant guide.
Keeping Kids Entertained at CMH
- Paw Force One therapy dogs – CMH’s certified therapy dogs and their handlers roam the terminal bringing stress relief to travelers. Look for the Paw Force One bandana or “pet me” harness — and the airport has issued trading cards for team members, a fun mini-collection for kids.
- Planespotting windows – Concourse B’s restaurants (Eddie George’s Grille 27, Land-Grant, Wolfgang Puck) have airfield views; even without buying a meal, the concourse windows give kids something to watch.
- Walk the concourses – CMH is compact, which means a full concourse loop is a manageable energy-burner before boarding. Just stay airside in your departure concourse — moving between concourses requires re-clearing security.
- Wi-Fi and charging – Free “CMH Public Wi-Fi” plus charging at gate seating keeps tablets alive; see our Wi-Fi and charging guide.
Tips for Stress-Free Family Travel at CMH
- Arrive early anyway. FlyColumbus recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before domestic flights and two hours for international — with kids, add a buffer to that, not subtract from it. See our guide on how early to arrive at CMH.
- Baby food and formula are exempt from the 3-1-1 rule. TSA allows reasonable quantities of breast milk, formula, and baby food through security — declare them for separate screening.
- Gate-check the stroller. Most airlines let you check a stroller and car seat at the gate for free — confirm with your airline, since policies vary.
- Pack snacks regardless. Even with good dining options, flight-day appetites and schedules don’t always cooperate; the Plum Market kitchen (Concourse B) and kiosk (Concourse A) cover fresh grab-and-go.
- Use the parking reminder. You’ll have your hands full — set AirportGo’s parking reminder before you leave the car so there’s no lot-searching later.
Keep planning: Columbus Airport Guide for every CMH guide in one place
Make Your CMH Journey Easier with AirportGo
AirportGo is built for the whole airport journey — before, during, and after your flight. Before you fly, use the trip tasks and packing checklist to organize the whole family’s travel (snacks, documents, car seats). During your trip, search the directory for kid-friendly food, nursing rooms, and restrooms, get step-by-step walking navigation to your gate, check TSA checkpoint times, and set a parking reminder so your spot is saved. After you land, the find-my-car feature walks you back to your vehicle with your saved parking photo and location. It works offline, so a weak airport signal won’t slow you down. The app is available now on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
Contact: airportgoofficial@gmail.com