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
$135
1 night at 3-star hotel
Columbia in August
Estimated hotel price
$135
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 Atlanta and takes around 1h 46m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Columbia, followed by Acela. The train journey from Columbia to Baltimore takes 0h 35m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Wilmington, expect to pay about $17 for a 1h 34m trip.

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.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Columbia, including Bus, OurBus and Washington Deluxe. From Baltimore, the bus ride to Columbia takes 72 km and will cost you around $23. From Newport News, the ticket costs about $24 for a journey of 338 km. Columbia’s bus station is located 4 km from the city center.

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 Atlanta and takes around 1h 46m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Columbia, followed by Acela. The train journey from Columbia to Baltimore takes 0h 35m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Wilmington, expect to pay about $17 for a 1h 34m trip.

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.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Columbia, including Bus, OurBus and Washington Deluxe. From Baltimore, the bus ride to Columbia takes 72 km and will cost you around $23. From Newport News, the ticket costs about $24 for a journey of 338 km. Columbia’s bus station is located 4 km from the city center.

Airports near Columbia

FDKFrederick
FMEFort Meade Tipton

Airlines serving Columbia

KLM
Good (1,511 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,943 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,461 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,344 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,208 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,583 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,680 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,568 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,769 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,723 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,995 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,192 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,392 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,230 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,433 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,312 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,324 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,970 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (307 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (209 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
Merriweather Lakehouse, Autograph Collection
4 stars
Excellent (9.2, 115 reviews)
$288+
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DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbia
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 715 reviews)
$129+
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Hampton Inn & Suites Columbia South
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 597 reviews)
$107+
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Hampton Inn Columbia
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 678 reviews)
$108+
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Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore at BWI Airport
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 1570 reviews)
$123+
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Sonesta Select Columbia
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, 933 reviews)
$83+
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Renting a car in Columbia

Renting a car in Columbia costs $54 per day, on average, or $161 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, 62% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Columbia costs $54 per day, on average, or $161 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, 62% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Columbia

Luxury

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$65/day

Luxury
Find car rentals in Columbia