Gambier

Tiny Gambier is a college town in Knox County, Ohio, centered around Kenyon College. The village of Gambier mostly consists of Kenyon's campus, which is quiet, pretty, and historic. The liberal-arts college has a student body of 1,900 (2023) in a village of 2,200 (2020).

Get in
The easiest way into Gambier is by car. The nearest major airport is in Columbus, a one-hour drive away. Kenyon College maintains a list of transport options for the benefit of its students.

By bicycle
The Kokosing Gap Trail (see below) connects Gambier with Mount Vernon, and forms part of the Ohio to Erie Trail which goes all the way from Cincinnati to Cleveland via Columbus.

Get around
As a college town, Gambier is very walkable, and everything is close together except for the slightly out-of-the-way BFEC. The campus is split into two grassy areas, North Campus and South Campus, each surrounded by academic buildings and student housing, with a mini downtown area in between. While the campus is private property, it's open to the public (you need a Kenyon-issued ID card to get into any actual academic buildings or dorms).

The gravel path running through the village, known as Middle Path, is an important landmark. It runs about a mile from Bexley Hall at its northern end, through the town itself, and south to Old K(enyon), the college's first building. Where Middle Path meets Wiggin Street is a pillared entrance called the "Gates of Hell" by the college's students.

Centrally located parking spots are mostly free two-hour parking. The underground has extensive and free designated visitor parking, with direct access to the admissions building and the library. Get to it from College Drive.

The village has one small old-fashioned gas station and mechanic in the form of, but gas is more expensive here than in Mount Vernon. An EV charging station is across the street.

Sleep
Kenyon maintains a list of accommodations in Gambier and nearby areas. Alternatively, you might want to stay in Mount Vernon, a ten-minute drive from Gambier, or in Columbus, about an hour away.



Connect
Free wifi is available on campus.



Go next

 * Mount Vernon – county seat of Knox County and the largest town close to Gambier. A 10- to 15-minute drive, depending on which route you take.
 * Coshocton - county seat of Coshocton County to the east
 * Columbus - the nearest major city