5.0
Pros: We enjoyed the bus ride and the vacation. Thank God made it back safe the driver where excellent. Cons: Nothing. Tips: Nothing.
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There are 9 intercity buses per day from Houston to Columbia. Traveling by bus from Houston to Columbia usually takes around 20 hours and 13 minutes, but the fastest Tornado Bus bus can make the trip in 16 hours and 39 minutes.
| Distance | 890 mi (1432 km) |
| Shortest duration | 16h 39m |
| Cheapest price | $230.00 |
| Trips per day | 14 |
| Most frequent service | Tornado Bus |
| Bus lines | 1 |

Average score for buses from Houston to Columbia
(Based on 1 ratings and reviews)
5.0
Pros: We enjoyed the bus ride and the vacation. Thank God made it back safe the driver where excellent. Cons: Nothing. Tips: Nothing.
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Houston to Columbia. Tornado Bus 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado Bus | 9 | 20h 14m | $231.61 |
The bus takes an average of 20 hours and 13 minutes to cover the 890 miles from Houston to Columbia. However, the fastest bus only takes 16 hours and 39 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.
Tuesday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Tuesday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 8:00am and the last bus leaves at 7:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Houston to Columbia, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 9 scheduled buses that travel from Houston to Columbia every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 14 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Houston, TX to Columbia, SC; ticket prices start at $418.00.

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Unsplash

Image credit: Unsplash
Houston, Texas is one of the most populous cities and among the most expansive cities in the U.S. As a result, Houston has become the leading commercial center in the Southern United States. Astronomy aficionados recognize Houston as the city where NASA’s Mission Control Center is located, and music fans know Houston as the birthplace of Queen B herself, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.
Even though Houston has a relatively small downtown area, it is packed with exciting things you can do while you’re in town. If you’re in the mood for a cultural outing, head to the Theater District where you are sure to find a play or a music performance you’d enjoy, or check out the Museum District that boasts more than 20 different museums and galleries. Since Houston is the most racially and ethnically diverse city in the country, its restaurant scene is one of a kind offering a rich variety of cuisines from all over the world. The many experiences available in Houston make it one of Texas' best vacation destinations.
As one of the main metropolitan cities in the U.S., Houston is very well connected to the rest of the country and the world. The main bus and train stations are both located right in the heart of downtown making it easy to get to your final destination by public transit or car. There are also several airports within the city’s vicinity that provide a good variety of options depending on where you’re flying to or from.
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.
Buses to Columbia leave from 3 stations in Houston.
Tornado Bus Station - Airport
Houston Southwest Fwy
Tornado Bus Station - Lockwood
All buses from Houston arrive at one main station in Columbia.
7400 Wilson Blvd

With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.