From Columbia Metropolitan Airport to the American Inn Columbia Area

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is at 3250 Airport Blvd in West Columbia, approximately 6 miles from downtown Columbia. Its driving-directions information identifies access from I-26, I-20, I-77 and nearby I-95. CAE is a single-concourse facility.

The drive from Columbia Metropolitan Airport to the hotel takes about 28 minutes. Use the hotel’s address in your navigation when arranging the trip. The airport identifies access from several interstates, but your route will depend on your chosen directions.

For a different way to get around after arrival, the guide to getting around Columbia, SC covers driving, transit and visitor routes.

Rental-car counters are on the terminal’s lower level in baggage claim. Emerald Club and other executive-club members may go directly to the lower level of the parking garage to collect vehicles. The airport’s rental-car information names Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

Taxi pickup is on the lower level in baggage claim, outside the doors to the left of the rental-car counters. The airport names Checker Yellow, Capital City, Blue Ribbon and Carolina Taxi as taxi companies operating at CAE.

Taxi service is $2.50 per mile plus $2 to start the meter. Rideshare pickup is on the lower level in front of the parking garage. Limousine and sedan pickups use the lower-level baggage-claim area, outside and to the left of the rental-car counters.

Hotel courtesy-shuttle pickup is in the same lower-level area as taxi pickup. Confirm shuttle service with your hotel before relying on it. Peer-to-peer car-share operators may not operate on airport property.

For pickup, head to the designated ground-transport area for your ride rather than waiting at the terminal curb. The upper-level public curb is for immediate pickup and drop-off only; parking there for longer than 5 minutes can result in an automatic ticket.

Vehicles may not park in front of the terminal on either level, and unattended curbside vehicles may be ticketed or towed.

If you are leaving a car at the airport, surface parking costs $1 for the first 30 minutes, then $2 for each additional half-hour, or $12 per day.

Garage parking costs $3 per half-hour or $17 per day; valet parking is $25 per day. Airport parking lots are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Prices and arrangements can change, so check the official site before you go.

Columbia city centre is about 11 minutes by car from the hotel, and Riverbanks Zoo is about 9 minutes by car. The South Carolina State Museum is about 10 minutes by car, while Finlay Park is about 10 minutes by car. For a day of sightseeing, the one-day Columbia itinerary brings city stops together into a practical route.