Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) serves the city with flights from Atlanta, Charlotte, and several other hubs. It is a small airport — easy to use, no need to arrive hours early. The airport is about 10 miles west of downtown; taxis and rideshares are the main transfer options.
Amtrak's Silver Star and Palmetto trains stop at Columbia on the New York–Miami line, though both run infrequently and the station (Cayce, just south of the city) is inconveniently located. Greyhound buses connect Columbia to Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh. I-26 and I-20 pass through the city, making it a natural stopping point for road trips along the southeastern corridor.