Cheap train tickets from Wilmington to Columbia

Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.

One way
Round trip

Find cheap hotels

Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:

Lowest Prices

We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.

Best Travel Options

We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.

Quick & Easy Booking

Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.

Fast Customer Support

We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.

See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:

Wilmington to Columbia Train Schedule

No preview is currently available. Please try another date or search the full schedule.

Trip Summary

There is one daily train from Wilmington to Columbia. Traveling by train from Wilmington to Columbia usually takes 13 hours and 56 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 13 hours and 20 minutes.

	Distance	499 mi (803 km)
	Fastest train	13h 20m
	Lowest price	CHF 117.28
	Most frequent service	Amtrak
	Train lines	1

What is the price of a train ticket from Wilmington to Columbia?

The average price for a train ticket from Wilmington, DE to Columbia, SC is CHF 117.28, Tickets are generally pricier for this train route, which is to be expected given the long distance. By booking your trip at least 24 days in advance, you increase your chances of scoring even cheaper tickets. But if you wait until the day of your trip to book tickets, expect to pay CHF 78.46 more.

Monthly avg. prices

Mark your calendar for September if you want to score the cheapest train tickets from Wilmington to Columbia. You’ll find the best deals during this time of year, when tickets cost an average of CHF 123. If you're planning a trip from Wilmington to Columbia during June, bear in mind that ticket prices are usually higher during this month. Expect to pay about CHF 190 for your train ticket, unless you book well in advance and find an even better deal.

Which train should you take from Wilmington to Columbia?

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Wilmington to Columbia. Furthermore, there is only one train per day, so you will have to plan your travel around this limited availability. On the other hand, you won't have to spend a ton of time comparing a bunch of possible options.

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	1	13h 56m	CHF 155.25

Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 1 Amtrak trains from Wilmington to Columbia every day, as well as 2 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from CHF 117.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Wilmington to Columbia

The distance between Wilmington and Columbia is approximately 499 miles, or 803 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 13 hours and 56 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 13 hours and 20 minutes.

Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Trains from Wilmington to Columbia are the most crowded on Saturday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Tuesday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Most days, there is only one train which leaves Wilmington at 10:00am and arrives in Columbia around 13 hours later.

Typically there is only one scheduled train per day. However, it is not a direct train. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you transfer trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.

You can also take a train for your return trip from Columbia to Wilmington.

City Information

Wilmington

Wilmington is a major city in Delaware, established at the site of the first Swedish settlement in North America. The charming city, at the confluence of the Brandywine River and Christina River, offers easy connections to the lush countryside of Brandywine Valley. Thanks to the venerable du Pont family, who established the DuPont Company in Wilmington in 1802, the city is filled with grand estates and magnificent gardens for visitors to enjoy. The Hagley Museum & Library is the ultimate example. The expansive complex includes the first home of the du Pont family, powder yards from the company's initial gunpowder mill, and a Renaissance-style garden complete with terraces.

To dive deeper into the city's history, check out the Fort Christina State Park, the site of Wilmington's original Swedish settlement over 400 years ago. Other popular attractions include the Delaware Art Museum and Brandywine Zoo.

Wilmington is easy to access from most of the mid-Atlantic region and is located between Philadelphia and Washington. In 2011, the city's Amtrak train station was renamed the Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station in honor of rail enthusiast Joe Biden, who often commuted via Amtrak from Wilmington to Washington during his time as a Senator. Buses from Wilmington also connect to cities like New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. Since the regional Wilmington Airport does not offer civilian flights, travelers can easily take a bus to the airport in Philadelphia for any air travel out of the area.

Columbia

Image credit: Brandon Dolley

Link to image attribution

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.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Wilmington?

Main departure station: Amtrak/SEPTA Station

There is one train station in Wilmington.

All train stations in Wilmington:

Amtrak/SEPTA Station

Where is the train station in Columbia?

Image credit: Hikki Nagasaki

Main arrival station: 850 Pulaski St

The Columbia Amtrak Station at 850 Pulaski St is the only train station in Columbia, SC. The station is served by the Amtrak Silver Star train, which travels from New York City to Miami. Built in 1991, the Columbia Station is a steel structure located three miles from the city's downtown area and not far from the University of South Carolina campus. It offers an indoor waiting area, an information kiosk, and restrooms. The station was moved to the current Pulaski Street site from Gervais Street, where the former red-brick Seaboard Air Line and Amtrak station stood.

All train stations in Columbia:

850 Pulaski St

Get around town with Moovit

Find the best way to get to and from any station in Columbia by public transit, courtesy of Moovit. Search now

From the Wanderu blog

How Much Luggage You Can Bring on Trains: A Complete Guide Read more

The 5 Best Train Routes for a Last-Minute Fall Foliage Adventure Read more

How to Take a Loop of the Entire U.S. by Train Read more

Need a return trip from Columbia to Wilmington?

Search Train Tickets

Plan your next adventure

Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.

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.