Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Columbia travel guide

Columbia Tourism | Columbia Guide

You're Going to Love Columbia

With a population of 99,615, Columbia is a must-see destination in Maryland, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Columbia has to offer.

Article

Where to Eat in Columbia

If you’re looking for affordable options, Glenwood's - Stanford Grill: Columbia (8900 Stanford Boulevard) and The Food Market - Columbia (10480 Little Patuxent Pkwy) are great picks.

When to visit Columbia

Columbia in August
Estimated hotel price
$137
1 night at 3-star hotel
Columbia in August
Estimated hotel price
$137
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Columbia

Plane

When flying to Columbia, you’ll arrive at Baltimore/Washington Airport (BWI), which is located 17 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Columbia departs from Knoxville and takes around 1h 26m.

Car

Another option to get to Columbia is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 298 km from Columbia. You’ll find branches of Turo and Drive Tri-State, among others, in New York.

Plane

When flying to Columbia, you’ll arrive at Baltimore/Washington Airport (BWI), which is located 17 km from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Columbia departs from Knoxville and takes around 1h 26m.

Car

Another option to get to Columbia is to pick up a car rental from New York, which is about 298 km from Columbia. You’ll find branches of Turo and Drive Tri-State, among others, in New York.

Airports near Columbia

FDKFrederick
FMEFort Meade Tipton

Airlines serving Columbia

KLM
Good (1,554 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,153 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,475 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,504 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,265 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,637 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,739 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,086 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,648 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,932 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,213 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,452 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,500 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,427 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,441 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,358 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,030 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,782 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (232 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (315 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Columbia

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Extended Stay America Select Suites - Columbia - Gateway Drive and Extended Stay America Suites - Columbia - Columbia Corporate Park.

Where to stay in popular areas of Columbia

Most booked hotels in Columbia

See all
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbia
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 718 reviews)
$144+
View
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Baltimore - BWI Airport North By IHG
2 stars
Excellent (8.6, 576 reviews)
$106+
View
Staybridge Suites Columbia - Baltimore By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1098 reviews)
$125+
View
Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia South
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 601 reviews)
$120+
View
Hampton Inn Columbia
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 684 reviews)
$110+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites By Wyndham Baltimore Bwi Airport
3 stars
Good (7.9, 1184 reviews)
$82+
View

Renting a car in Columbia

Renting a car in Columbia costs $54 per day, on average, or $162 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Columbia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. Compact (Nissan Sentra or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Columbia, while also 63% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Columbia costs $54 per day, on average, or $162 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

Expect to pay $4.43 per gallon in Columbia (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.15 and $70.86. Compact (Nissan Sentra or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Columbia, while also 63% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Columbia

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$50/day

Compact

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$53/day

Full-size
Find car rentals in Columbia