Anyone traveling to or from South Carolina's capital city of Columbia has a lot of options. Flights arrive and depart from half a dozen airports within two hours of downtown Columbia. Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the closest to downtown, but passengers may find more direct or less expensive flights into some of the other airports in the region, so it pays to know your options.
The most convenient airport for travel to Columbia, South Carolina is the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, located eight miles southwest of downtown Columbia. Over 1.2 million passengers use the airport every year, flying on American Eagle, Delta, United and US Airways direct to nine cities throughout the United States. The airport has one terminal with 13 gates and shopping and restaurant areas.
Located in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina, 80 miles east of Columbia, the Florence Regional Airport services US Airways flights. It is a smaller airport, with fewer than 10 flights arriving and departing every day. Its facilities include a conference room with space for 15 people and a waiting area with vending machines.
Located just across the Georgia border, approximately 70 miles southwest of Columbia, the Augusta Regional Airport services Delta flights to and from Atlanta and US Airways flights to and from Charlotte. There is no restaurant in the airport, but two Java Hut locations offer drinks and some food items.
The closest international airport to Columbia, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, is located just over the border in North Carolina, approximately 95 miles north of Columbia. With four runways, more than 600 daily departures nonstop to 130 destinations and 34 million passengers every year, the Charlotte airport is the largest in the area.
The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, located 105 miles northwest of Columbia, offers nonstop flights to 19 United States cities on six airlines, including Amwerican Airlines, Southwest and United Airlines. Over 1.5 million passengers use the airport every year. The concourse includes a restaurant, fast food, vending machines, microwaves, a gift shop and three conference rooms.
Charleston International Airport offers flights on six airlines -- including Jet Blue and American Airlines -- to and from 14 cities. Located 110 miles southeast of Columbia on the South Carolina coast, the Charleston International Airport offers a three-level terminal with 10 gates. The airport is adjacent to an Air Force base.
