Columbia SC to Tampa road trip: Best stops, distance & drive time

The best road trip stops on the Columbia SC to Tampa drive are Hilton Head Island, Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL. The distance from Columbia SC to Tampa by car is 487 miles, with a 7h20m driving time.

Planning a Columbia SC to Tampa road trip itinerary

The Columbia SC to Tampa drive takes you from the capital of South Carolina to the Florida coast.

Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina. Top attractions include the South Carolina State Museum, which looks at the rich history of the state. It does so in a surprisingly fun way, with a digital planetarium and 4D theater.

But the city’s real appeal is in the numerous parks along the Broad River. These include the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

For well-rated Columbia accommodation options, try the academia-themed Graduate and the characterful Hotel Trundle.

Tampa is justifiably one of the most popular holiday destinations in Florida. It’s home to top attractions such as the Florida Aquarium, ZooTampa, the Adventure Island water park and Busch Gardens theme park.

Other great Tampa experiences include historic Ybor City food walking tours,  seeing the highlights in a street legal golf cart and a Haunted Tampa tour that combines ghosts and pubs.

Also on offer are Segway tours, history cruises, dolphin-watching and celebrity homes tours.

Tampa accommodation is best booked in advance – look for deals here.

Columbia SC to Tampa distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Columbia SC to Tampa is 487 miles. This makes for a driving time of around seven hours and 20 minutes. The quickest route heads along the I-26, I-95 and I-75.

The best stops to add to a Columbia SC to Tampa road trip itinerary are Hilton Head Island, Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL.

For more suggestions, see the guides to the Savannah to Jacksonville drive and Jacksonville to Tampa drive.

Columbia SC to Tampa road trip attractions: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hilton Head is an island off the South Carolina coast, best known for its white sand beaches. The Coastal Discovery Museum covers the region’s complex ecology, while the chunky red and white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse is the island’s icon.

Top Hilton Head activities include a dolphin-watching cruise, a kayak tour, parasailing and a Segway tour.

You can also head out on a shrimp boat trawling cruise, try a mixology and tapas experience and jet skiing.

Columbia SC to Tampa drive: Savannah, Georgia

Savannah has a timewarp handsomeness about it. Parks are lined by mossy oak trees, 19th century buildings ooze history and riverboats glide along the rivers.

Great activities in Savannah include the Ghosts and Gravestones trolley tour, riverboat cruises and a true crime pub crawl.

Best stops between Columbia SC and Tampa: Jacksonville, Florida

Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.

For cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum, where the strength tends to be the rotating temporary exhibitions.

Highly-rated Jacksonville accommodation options include the charming Riverdale Inn B&B and the conveniently downtown Hyatt Regency.

Downtown Tampa, Florida.
Downtown Tampa, Florida. Photo by Jesse Adair/ Unsplash.

More Columbia SC road trips

Columbia SC to Asheville | Columbia SC to Atlanta | Columbia SC to Augusta | Columbia SC to Charlotte NC | Columbia SC to Jacksonville | Columbia SC to Myrtle Beach | Columbia SC to Nashville | Columbia SC to Orlando | Columbia SC to Raleigh NC | Columbia SC to Wilmington NC.

More Tampa road trips

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