There are 7 ways to get from Chicago to Columbia by plane, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train (Amtrak), or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Columbia
best- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Columbia (CAE)plane ORD - CAE
5h 14m$60–337Bus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Atlanta Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Camdenbus
- Take the bus from Camden to Columbia, SCbus Nyc
24h 29m$190–302Train (Amtrak)
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Columbia Stationtrain Floridian
28h 45m$700–1,100Drive 762.6 mi
- Drive from Chicago to Columbiacar 762.6 mi
14h 10m$140–201Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Columbia
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Columbia (CAE)plane MDW - CAE
6h 42m$94–507Fly Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Charleston International Airport, drive
- Fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Charleston International Airport (CHS)plane ORD - CHS
- Drive from Charleston-Airport-CHS to Columbiacar
5h 51m$522–884Fly Chicago Midway International Airport to Charleston International Airport, drive
- Fly from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to Charleston International Airport (CHS)plane MDW - CHS
- Drive from Charleston-Airport-CHS to Columbiacar
5h 34m$132–684
Chicago to Columbia by train (Amtrak)
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Chicago to Columbia is to drive which costs $130 - $210 and takes 14h 10m.
The fastest way to get from Chicago to Columbia is to fly which takes 5h 14m and costs $55 - $340.
No, there is no direct bus from Chicago station to Columbia. However, there are services departing from Chicago Bus Station and arriving at Sumter Laurel South via Atlanta Bus Station, Camden and Broad Marley South. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 24h 29m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Chicago Union Station station and arriving at Columbia Station station. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 28h 45m.
The distance between Chicago and Columbia is 697 miles. The road distance is 767 miles.
The best way to get from Chicago to Columbia without a car is to bus which takes 24h 29m and costs $190 - $310.
It takes approximately 5h 14m to get from Chicago to Columbia, including transfers.
Chicago to Columbia bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Chicago Bus Station.
Chicago to Columbia train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Chicago Union Station.
The best way to get from Chicago to Columbia is to fly which takes 5h 14m and costs $55 - $340. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $190 - $310 and takes 24h 29m, you could also train, which costs $700 - $1,100 and takes 28h 45m.
What companies run services between Chicago, IL, USA and Columbia, SC, USA?
American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta fly from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Columbia (CAE) hourly. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Chicago Bus Station to Sumter Laurel South via Atlanta Bus Station, Camden, Columbia, SC, and Broad Marley South in around 24h 29m.
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Columbia via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $65–350
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Columbia via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $95–550
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $80–440
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Atlanta
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Columbia
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Columbia via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $60–330
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Columbia via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 10m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $90–500
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Charleston International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–420
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Charlotte
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–420
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Charleston International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–650
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Charleston International Airport via Nashville
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 24m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–700
Flights from Chicago Midway International Airport to Charleston International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Columbia
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–330
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Columbia via Washington Dulles
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–380
Flights from Chicago O'Hare International Airport to Charleston International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $75–420
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Chicago Union Station to Columbia Station
- Ave. Duration
- 28h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $700–1,100
- Website
- Amtrak
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Atlanta Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 5m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $120–190
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Atlanta Bus Station to Camden
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Atlanta Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $110–170
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Phone
- +1 646-630-7186
- [email protected]
- Website
- Wanda Coach
Bus from Camden to Columbia, SC
- Ave. Duration
- 42 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $28–40
- Website
- Wanda Coach
- Book at
- GotoBus.com
- Adult One Way
- $28–40
Want to know more about travelling around United States
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Booking & Getting There
Chicago to Columbia bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Atlanta Bus Station.
Columbia is 1h ahead of Chicago. It is currently 2:32 PM in Chicago and 3:32 PM in Columbia.
Chicago to Columbia train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Columbia Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chicago to Columbia is 767 miles. It takes approximately 14h 10m to drive from Chicago to Columbia.
Book your Chicago to Columbia train tickets online with Omio.
There are 373+ hotels available in Columbia.