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How to get to Columbia by train
| Routes | 66 |
| Trips per day | 85 |
| train lines | 2 |
| Stations | 1 |
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About 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.
Station Information
Image credit: Hikki Nagasaki
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.
Popular train stations in Columbia:
850 Pulaski St
What train companies travel to Columbia, South Carolina?
Located in South Carolina, Columbia is accessible by train from 66 other cities. You can choose from 85 daily scheduled trips when you search for trains to Columbia on Wanderu. Amtrak usually has the most trains on any given day.
Looking for other ways to get there? Bus tickets to Columbia are also available.
Train companies serving Columbia
| Train | Routes | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 171 | 1d 1h 9m | $223.40 |
| Amtrak Silver Service | 35 | 10h 21m | $128.76 |
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.
The Silver Service is an Amtrak train line that runs from New York City to Miami, connecting the largest cities in the Mid-Atlantic region with key destinations in the South and many places across the Sunshine State. Two trains, the Silver Meteor and Silver Star, collectively comprise the Silver Service. The trains come equipped with a variety of sleeper cars that travelers taking an overnight train can choose from, as well as a variety of amenities like free WiFi, power outlets, and a café car.
Which train carrier has the best service to Columbia?
Based on customers travel reviews, travelers who booked on Wanderu rave about traveling to Columbia by train with Amtrak Silver Service giving them a 3.9 rating out of 5.
Travelers also mentioned that Amtrak Silver Service had the most comfortable train service to Columbia taking into account the seats and amenities that Amtrak Silver Service offers. They rate Amtrak Silver Service a 3.9 out of 5 when it comes to just how relaxing and enjoyable their experience was onboard.
If you are looking to arrive to Columbia punctually, travelers suggest that Amtrak Silver Service has the best on time performance on their train schedules to Columbia, rating them a 4.5 based on their on time arrivals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main train station in Columbia is 850 Pulaski St. As the busiest station, it has the most train arrivals, although some trains may make other stops in and around Columbia.
| Departure | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lakeland | 10h 44m | $105.18 |
| Birmingham | 1d 7h 17m | $249.47 |
| Fort Myers | 18h 17m | $121.07 |
| New Orleans | 1d 15h 26m | $279.94 |
| Richmond | 13h 4m | $146.88 |
Top train routes to and from Columbia
- train from Columbia to Newark
- train from Atlanta to Columbia
- train from Columbia to Tampa
- train from Richmond to Columbia
- train from Charlotte to Columbia
- train from Columbia to Jacksonville
- train from Birmingham to Columbia
- train from Columbia to Atlanta
- train from Tampa to Columbia
- train from Camden to Columbia
Popular train routes in Europe
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