For one day in Columbia, SC, build your itinerary around a downtown landmark, a museum and a stop at either a park or historic house. If your visit falls on Saturday, Soda City Market gives you a morning start; the city’s museums and State House tours offer other stops to fit around it.
- Saturday morning: Soda City Market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Main Street.
- State House: Guided tours are free, with schedules that vary depending on whether the legislature is in session.
- Museums: The Columbia Museum of Art and South Carolina State Museum are both closed Monday.
- From the hotel: Budget Inn Express is about a 6-minute drive from Columbia city centre.
Start with a downtown landmark
The South Carolina State House makes a practical first stop, with free guided tours and an address at 1100 Gervais Street, where Gervais and Main Streets meet. From this Columbia inn, the city centre is about a 6-minute drive.
On weekdays, tour frequency depends on whether the legislature is in session. When it is in session, tours run every half hour from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m., except at noon and 12:30 p.m. When it is not in session, tours run hourly on the half hour over that same span, with no 12:30 p.m. tour.
Saturday tours follow a separate schedule: guided tours are at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Self-guided visits with brochures are available from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The State House is open for Saturday tours except after Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Choose a museum for the middle of the day
Columbia’s two museums provide different ticket options and opening patterns, so choose based on your interests and the day of the week. Both close on Monday, and their hours and admission details can change.
Columbia Museum of Art
The Columbia Museum of Art is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. On First Thursdays, it stays open until 8 p.m.
General admission is $15 for adults, $13 for adults 65 and over, and $10 for college students and youth ages 7–18. Children 6 and under enter free; tickets are available at the door or in advance. Groups of 10 or more should book through the museum’s group-tour arrangements.
South Carolina State Museum
The South Carolina State Museum’s galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.; it is closed Monday. General admission is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 62 and over, and $10 for children ages 3–12. Planetarium and 4D shows require a ticket add-on.
For more detail on choosing between collections and planning a visit, read this guide to museums in Columbia.
Add a park or historic-house stop
Use the afternoon for a change of pace: choose green space at Finlay Park or visit the Robert Mills House. These are separate stops, so pick the one that best fits the shape of your day rather than trying to squeeze in both.
For the historic-house visit, the Robert Mills House in Columbia has its own history and visiting details.
Fit in a market or evening event
Soda City Market is a Saturday-morning option, held year-round, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Main Street. It began in 2005 as the All Local Farmers Market, with six vendors at a local restaurant, and moved to Main Street in 2012.
Because the market occupies Main Street blocks, those blocks close to traffic on Saturday mornings. Saturday parking is free in the Main Street District; nearby garages include Lady Street Garage, Washington Street Garage, Sumter Street Garage, Taylor Street Garage and PJ Cannon Garage.
The market pairs naturally with a later State House or museum visit, but its hours make it a morning stop. The facts here support a daytime itinerary; they do not establish a regular evening event to add after the museums.
Check opening times and connect the route
The Soda Cap Connector, described by Experience Columbia SC, is a $1 service linking attractions including the State House, State Museum and Main Street District, with service every 30 minutes on three routes. It runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.
Before you go, check the official site for the State House, each museum, the market or Experience Columbia SC, depending on the stop you plan to visit. Use the schedule to set the day’s order: a Saturday market first, then a tour or museum, with a park or historic-house visit as the final daytime stop.
FAQs
What can you do in Columbia in one day?
Plan a downtown landmark, one museum and either Finlay Park or the Robert Mills House. On Saturday, Soda City Market can fill the morning before the other stops.
Is Soda City Market open every Saturday?
Yes. It is held every Saturday year-round, rain or shine, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Main Street.
Are Columbia museums open on Mondays?
No. The Columbia Museum of Art and South Carolina State Museum are both closed Monday.
Are State House tours free?
Yes. Guided tours are free, but their weekday frequency depends on whether the legislature is in session. Saturday tours follow a separate schedule.
Where can you add a park stop?
For a park stop, Finlay Park in Columbia can fit into the afternoon alongside a historic-house visit.