Cheap bus tickets from Columbia to Indianapolis
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Columbia to Indianapolis Bus Schedule
Bus from Columbia to Indianapolis: Journey Information
There are 4 intercity buses per day from Columbia to Indianapolis. Traveling by bus from Columbia to Indianapolis usually takes around 18 hours and 22 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 17 hours and 30 minutes.
| Distance | 489 mi (786 km) |
| Shortest duration | 17h 30m |
| Cheapest price | $93.00 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 1 |

What bus companies travel from Columbia to Indianapolis?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Columbia to Indianapolis. Greyhound connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound | 4 | 18h 23m | $129.67 |
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 4 bus trips from Columbia to Indianapolis every day, with the average journey taking around 18 hours and 23 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Indianapolis usually start from $93.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Columbia to Indianapolis
The bus takes an average of 18 hours and 22 minutes to cover the 489 miles from Columbia to Indianapolis. However, the fastest bus only takes 17 hours and 30 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Tuesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Tuesday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 11:00am and the last bus leaves at 11:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Columbia to Indianapolis, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 4 scheduled buses that travel from Columbia to Indianapolis every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so no matter which bus you take, you will have to transfer buses at least once during your journey.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Columbia, SC to Indianapolis, IN; ticket prices start at $340.00.
City Information
Columbia
As the capital city of South Carolina, Columbia offers plenty of historic attractions and exciting activities that will keep tourists of all ages satisfied. Sitting at the heart of the city is the South Carolina State Museum, which boasts the most impressive collection of permanent and changing exhibits in the state, as well as in the Southeast. One of the top highlights of the museum is its amazing planetarium that has a height of 55 feet. If you are traveling with kids, EdVenture should certainly be on your list. The museum’s prime attraction is a giant 10-year-old with his own fake digestive tracts and vertebrae, allowing kids to explore anatomy with ease. Nature lovers should not miss out on the chance to enjoy an outdoor day at Lake Murray, which features a vast range of activities such as boating, fishing, paddling, etc.
Columbia features an exciting food scene that is brimming with new talents. For an amazing lunch, The Gourmet Shop and their famous chicken salad will be a great choice. If you wish to enjoy a dinner with wine, Lula Drake is the place to be.
Columbia’s principal bus station is located 710-A Buckner Rd on the outskirts of the city. The main Amtrak train station is located on Pulaski St in the heart of downtown near the University of South Carolina campus. Columbia is served by Amtrak’s Silver Service line. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the main airport and it is located five miles southwest of the city.
Indianapolis



Indianapolis, or often referred to as just Indy, is the capital and largest city in the state of Indiana. While the city attracts thousands of visitors from the area every month, it is during Memorial Day weekend that Indianapolis becomes the place to be for over 300,000 race car fans from all over the globe. The reason for that is the Indianapolis 500, an annual automobile race and the world’s largest single day sporting event, taking place at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
If you’re not in Indianapolis for Memorial Day weekend, you can learn about the race and see a rare collection of 500 Indy race vehicles and memorabilia at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. And while you’re on a history streak, stop by at one of the many war memorials found throughout the city, like the Soldiers and Sailors monument, the World War II memorial, and the Indiana War Memorial where you must check out the Shrine Room for a stunning one-of-a-kind experience.
Over the past few years, Indianapolis has also been cultivating a vibrant restaurant scene, offering classic American dishes made with ingredients from local farmers, and a growing selection of international cuisine. If you’re a beer fan, you will be happy to know that Indianapolis has some of the highest quality breweries in the U.S.
Located in the heart of America’s Midwest, Indianapolis offers easy connections by bus and train to other Midwestern hubs like Chicago, Louisville, and Cincinnati, while the conveniently located airport connects Indy with the rest of the world.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Columbia?
Main departure station: Bus Terminal - 710-A Buckner Rd
The Bus Terminal on 710-A Buckner Road is the main intercity bus station in Columbia and is served by several bus companies, including Greyhound and Southeastern Stages. The terminal offers an indoor waiting area with benches, vending machines, and restrooms. Buses leave from this station daily to destinations like Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Baltimore, and Orlando. Transport throughout Columbia is also convenient, as the Comet, a public transit bus service, connects the Columbia Bus Terminal with the Amtrak Station and Columbia's airport.
All bus stations in Columbia:
Bus Terminal - 710-A Buckner Rd
Where does the bus arrive in Indianapolis?

Image credit: Panoramio upload bot
Link to image attributionMain arrival station: 350 S Illinois St
Union Station at 350 S Illinois St in Indianapolis is a major train and bus station which serves the Amtrak Cardinal, and bus carriers including Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, Miller Transportation, and Burlington Trailways. The modern station is located directly south of the historic 1888 Union Station, which now houses a hotel, several restaurants, and a wedding venue. Union Station is in the Wholesale District of downtown Indianapolis, within walking distance to eateries and hotels. There is even an underground, climate-controlled walkway from the station to the nearby Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts.
All bus stations in Indianapolis:
350 S Illinois St
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