Columbia Travel Guide

Travel in Columbia

Destinations Near Columbia

Southeast Travel States/Provinces

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Sailboat at sunset on Lake Murray near Columbia, South Carolina
Lake Murray at sunset (courtesy, Columbia CVB)

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Columbia Travel Tips

  • Discover more than 2,000 lions, tigers, lemurs, and other wild animals in simulated natural habitats at the 170-acre Riverbanks Zoo and Garden near downtown.
  • From the Civil War to the Civil Rights Era, head back into Palmetto State history at the South Carolina State Museum. Located in a 19th-century textile mill, the museum also features art, natural history, and science exhibits.
  • Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, bird-watching, and hiking through the old-growth forest at Congaree National Park, about 20 miles outside the city.
  • Find time to explore Five Points, one of Columbia's more colorful neighborhoods, featuring a variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries.
  • Plan a Columbia visit between fall and spring. Summers can be brutally hot and humid.

Columbia Overview

Columbia, unlike many of America's older cities, has the orderly look of a planned community, with streets laid out like an almost-unbroken checkerboard and wide boulevards, giving it a graceful beauty. The city was created in 1786 as a compromise capital, located just 3 miles from the exact geographical center of the state, to satisfy both Low Country and Upstate factions. George Washington paid a visit to Columbia in 1791, just a year after the first General Assembly convened in the brand-new city. Read More

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Hotels

from: $100

Clarion Hotel Downtown

1615 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
from: $145

Claussens Inn

2003 Greene St
Columbia, SC 29205 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
from: $99

The Whitney Hotel

700 Woodrow Street
Columbia, SC 29205 Map

Distance: 0.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

Expert Rated & Recommended
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Attractions

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

expert favorite attraction
500 Wildlife Pkwy
Columbia, South Carolina

Distance: 2.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Named one of the 10 great zoos in America, Riverbanks Zoo is known for its worldwide... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

University of South Carolina

Gregg, Pendleton, and Main Sts
911 Sumter St
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Distance: 0.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

The scenic 218-acre campus is covered with buildings dating from the early 1800s. The campus is... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0

Columbia Museum of Art

expert favorite attraction
Corner of Main and Hampton Sts
1515 Main St
Columbia, South Carolina 29201

Distance: 0.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

The museum's plaza has four quadrants: one containing an amphitheater, another a dining... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
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Airports

Major Airports near Columbia

Distance (mi.)
Charlotte Douglas Airport 84.3 map Flight Deals to CLT
Greensboro Piedmont Triad International Airport 158.4 map Flight Deals to GSO
Raleigh/Durham Airport 180.9 map Flight Deals to RDU

Other Smaller Airports near Columbia

Distance (mi.)
Columbia Metropolitan Airport 5.9 map Flight Deals to CAE
Augusta Bush Field 69.3 map
Charleston AFB Municipal Airport 95.4 map Flight Deals to CHS

Flight Deals to Columbia

Originating From
Orlando (ORL) to Charlotte (CLT) $154
Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT) $155
Baltimore (BWI) to Charlotte (CLT) $164
St Louis (STL) to Charlotte (CLT) $170
Rochester, NY (ROC) to Charlotte (CLT) $172

Trip Ideas

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Columbia Vacation Rentals

check rates
from: $125

Spacious Townhome Near the Beach

Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Sleeps: 10
Amenities: Alarm Clock, BBQ, Ceiling fans, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Freezer, Hot Tub, Microwave, Oceanfront, Swimming Pool, TV, VCR
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from: $434

Exquisite 6 Bedroom Historical Home

Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 6
Sleeps: 20
Amenities: Air Conditioning, Alarm Clock, BBQ, Blender, Ceiling fans, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Freezer, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Jacuzzi, Laundry, Microwave, Patio, Swimming Pool, TV, VCR, Wireless Internet Access
check rates
from: $590

Gorgeous Home on the Beachwalk

Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 6
Sleeps: 12
Amenities: Air Conditioning, Alarm Clock, BBQ, Ceiling fans, DVD Player, Dishwasher, Fireplace, Freezer, Hot Tub, Internet Access, Laundry, Microwave, Patio, Swimming Pool, TV, VCR
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