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.

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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
$131
1 night at 3-star hotel
Columbia in August
Estimated hotel price
$131
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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 20m.

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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 20m.

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 (1,557 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,161 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,482 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,503 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,261 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,642 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,742 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (10,113 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,654 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,950 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,214 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,466 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,504 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,426 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,451 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,365 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,035 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,805 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (315 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (232 reviews)
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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)
$138+
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Staybridge Suites Columbia - Baltimore By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 1097 reviews)
$123+
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Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia South
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 601 reviews)
$120+
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Hilton Baltimore BWI Airport
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 945 reviews)
$130+
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Hampton Inn Columbia
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 686 reviews)
$109+
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Sonesta Select Columbia
3 stars
Good (7.8, 957 reviews)
$84+
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Renting a car in Columbia

Renting a car in Columbia costs $56 per day, on average, or $169 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. The most frequently booked car type in Columbia is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Sentra or similar) are, on average, 63% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Columbia costs $56 per day, on average, or $169 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. The most frequently booked car type in Columbia is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Nissan Sentra or similar) are, on average, 63% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Columbia

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$45/day

Full-size

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$48/day

Compact
Find car rentals in Columbia