Want to get out of Columbia because you love the outdoors but hate driving around to find the best spots?

Whether you live in Columbia or are just visiting for a few days, there are plenty of great outdoor adventures you can try, many within 2 hours or less away from the city. From hiking to fishing and biking, these 12 sites should offer something for you to enjoy.

This might be the most obvious choice for a great outdoor adventure nearby Columbia. Just 20 miles southeast of Columbia lies Congaree National Park, a 26,276-acre park that features one of the last remaining old-growth bottomland forests in the United States. Visitors can explore the park’s boardwalks, hiking trails, and waterways, and see wildlife such as deer, otters, and bald eagles.

Here’s another nearby and highly popular outdoor spot. Located just a few miles west of Columbia, Lake Murray is a 50,000-acre man-made lake. There you can enjoy many outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, swimming and camping. Visitors can also enjoy hiking and biking trails, as well as several public parks and beaches.

Situated in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Table Rock State Park is 134 miles away from Columbia, a drive that will take roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes. Once there, visitors can bask in the stunning views of the landscape, then hike at the park’s trails, including the 3.6-mile hike to the summit Table Rock Mountain. If hiking isn’t your thing, relax on the shores of Lake Oolenoy.

Hunting Island State Park is located in Beaufort County, a 158-mile, 2-hour and 41-minute drive from Columbia. The park is a great spot to experience South Carolina’s Lowcountry with its pristine beach, salt marshes, maritime forests and activities such as hiking, camping and fishing. There’s also a historic lighthouse at the site. Though the lighthouse is closed for repairs, it can still be viewed from the grounds.

Edisto Beach State Park, located on the coast of South Carolina, is 137 miles away from Columbia, a drive of just 2 hours and 21 minutes. The park is known for its quiet beaches and untouched natural beauty. Visitors can swim, fish, and hike, or explore the park’s marshes and tidal creeks by kayak.

At around 106 miles away, Paris Mountain State Park is less than a 2-hour drive from Columbia. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the park offers stunning views, along with 15 miles of hiking and biking trails that wind through lush forests and by sparkling streams. There is a 13-acre lake for swimming, fishing and kayaking. The park is also rich in history, with several structures that date back to the Civilian Conservation Corps era of the 1930s, along with a colonial period burial site.

The only spot on this list not in South Carolina, Pisgah National Forest can be found about 2.5 hours away from Columbia in Asheville, North Carolina. The forest covers more than 500,000 acres of pristine wilderness and has more than 250 miles of hiking trails, including part of the famous Appalachian Trail. Pisgah also has a solid collection of beautiful waterfalls.

Devils Fork State Park, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is home to Lake Jocassee, a clear mountain lake surrounded by pristine wilderness. A 141-mile, roughly 2-hour and 30-minute drive will get you there from Columbia. Visitors can fish, boat, and hike, or take a refreshing dip in the lake’s crystal-clear waters.

The Palmetto Trail is a 500-mile hiking and biking trail that stretches across South Carolina, from the mountains in the northwest to the coast in the southeast. If you’re in Columbia, you don’t even need to get in a car for this one, as the trail passes into the city, letting hikers use sidewalks through beautiful neighborhoods, along the historic Horseshoe at the University of South Carolina and across the steps of the State Capitol. Keep going and the trail links Fort Jackson Passage to Riverfront Park and the Broad River.

Myrtle Beach State Park, located on the Grand Strand, is a popular destination for beachgoers and nature lovers alike. And its barely over a 2.5-hour drive from Columbia. The park features a pristine beach, hiking and biking trails, a fishing pier and a nature center.

Located on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Caesars Head State Park offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The park is 134 miles from Columbia, just 2 hours and 25 minutes away.

Visitors can hike the park’s trails, including the challenging Raven Cliff Falls Trail. They can also explore the park’s natural features, such as waterfalls and rock formations. One such waterfall, Raven Cliff Falls, are the highest in South Carolina at 400 feet.

The drive to Francis Marion National Forest is just a little over 2 hours from Columbia. The forest covers over 250,000 acres of South Carolina’s coastal plain. Visitors can hike, bike, fish, camp and explore the forest’s many rivers and wetlands by canoe or kayak.

Whether you want to call it by its nickname, “Soda City,” or just by its name, Columbia, SC, is one of the many great destinations to move to in the South. This South Carolina city is known for many things including its Southern charm, riverfront views, museums, and Greek Revival buildings.

And if you’re considering living in Columbia, there’s four things you should know. The housing market is somewhat competitive, the median home sale price is $237,000, the average sale price per square foot is $135, and the average rent price for a two-bedroom apartment in Columbia is $1,249.

If those prices are out of your budget, don’t worry, we’ve got options. We’ve collected the 5 most affordable suburbs of Columbia, SC, to consider living in. And the best part is that they’re all less than 25 minutes away from the city center. You’ll still be close enough to Columbia to explore the city’s great neighborhoods without the price of living there.

#1: Dentsville

Median home price: $158,950 Average sale price per square foot: $101 Driving distance from Columbia: 15 minutes Dentsville, SC homes for sale Dentsville, SC apartments for rent

With a median home sale price of $158,950, Dentsville comes in at number one on our list of most affordable suburbs of Columbia, SC. About a 15-minute drive north of downtown Columbia, Dentsville is home to roughly 14,400 residents. If you’re considering moving to this area make sure to explore the nearby Sesquicentennial State Park where you can camp, canoe, bike, or walk on a nature trail.

#2: Woodfield

Median home price: $160,000 Average sale price per square foot: $136 Driving distance from Columbia: 20 minutes Woodfield, SC homes for sale Woodfield, SC apartments for rent

Columbia’s second most affordable suburb is Woodfield. About a 20-minute drive away from downtown Columbia, you can explore Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, and boat, fish, or relax at Lake Murray in just a quick drive. When living in this suburb of 9,200 people, you can also spend time exploring charming downtown Woodfield.

#3: Seven Oaks

Median home price: $191,000 Average sale price per square foot: $130 Driving distance from Columbia: 15 minutes Seven Oaks, SC homes for sale Seven Oaks, SC apartments for rent

15 minutes outside of the city, you’ll find yourself in the suburb of Seven Oaks. Even with a population of about 14,700, there are plenty of fun things to do in Seven Oaks. Make sure to check out one of the many parks like Seven Oaks Park or the Environmental Center at Saluda Shoals Park if you move to the third most affordable suburb.

#4: West Columbia

Median home price: $215,000 Average sale price per square foot: $153 Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment: $1,225 Driving distance from Columbia: 8 minutes West Columbia, SC homes for sale West Columbia, SC apartments for rent

Only slightly more expensive than Seven Oaks is West Columbia, the next suburb on our list. With a population close to 17,400, there’s still plenty to do in this suburb of Columbia, SC. Plan to spend the day taking in the riverfront views at West Columbia Riverwalk Park and Amphitheater, exploring the Riverbanks Botanical Garden, and grabbing a meal at one of the many local spots.

#5: Red Bank

Median home price: $239,750 Average sale price per square foot: $155 Driving distance from Columbia: 25 minutes Red Bank, SC homes for sale Red Bank, SC apartments for rent

Drive 25 minutes outside of Columbia and you’ll find the suburb of Red Bank, the final city on our list. With 10,900 people living in this affordable town, Red Bank is a great option to consider when looking to stay close to Columbia without paying the premium for a home in the city. In Red Bank, there’s plenty to explore throughout the year.

Methodology: Affordability is based on whether a suburb’s median home sale price or average sale price per square foot is less than Columbia and under a 25-minute drive from downtown Columbia. Median home sale price data from the Redfin Data Center during March 2023. Average rental data from Rent.com March 2023. Population data sourced from the United States Census Bureau.

COLUMBIA — Business at Which Wich on South Main Street is steady on weekdays as students stop in between lectures and Statehouse employees drop by for a quick bite.

When session and classes are out, though, it’s a different story, district manager Mack Strickland said.

“It’d be great if this was a nicer area because nobody comes here on the weekends,” Strickland said. “On Saturdays, it’s just completely dead. On Sundays, it’s dead. And during the summertime, nothing.”

As plans to transform South Main Street, the blocks between the Statehouse and Blossom Street that crosses into the USC campus, into a bustling pedestrian mall begin, those involved hope it will turn the thoroughfare from a path for students into a destination of its own.

Construction begins Feb. 23, to make the street two lanes instead of five, widen the sidewalks, plant more trees and construct dedicated bike lanes.

The $23 million project — a joint effort from the University of South Carolina, city of Columbia and state Department of Transportation — is expected to be completed in June 2025.

About a year of the timeline, and $8 million of the cost, will be dedicated to moving utilities underground, state DOT project manager Berry Mattox said. Construction will halve the road, cutting it down to two lanes while the sidewalks are extended. Street parking will be removed until the work is done.

The road stretching from Blossom to Pendleton streets acts as a junction for USC and the Statehouse. Students and lawmakers alike walk down the cracked sidewalks, heading one way for legislating and another for classes in the university buildings lining the road.

“It’s pretty barren,” Main Street District CEO Matt Kennell said. “It just feels unloved.”

South Main is a stark contrast from the shopping district of Main Street on the other side of the Statehouse grounds, with two-lane roads, wide sidewalks and lush greenery. Transforming the road could make it more cohesive with the vibrant shopping corridor that is the other side of Main Street.

“I’m hoping that someday we’ll look at (South Main) as being Main Street,” Kennell said. “It’ll be the grand boulevard for the whole city.”

With students walking to and from classes, pedestrian numbers on the Greene Street intersection surpass 1,000 an hour during peak hours — some of the highest numbers in the city, Mattox said.

Revamping the area could be a major boost for the university, USC President Michael Amiridis said.

“That’s an area that has a lot of potential for our students, for their families when they come to visit, for their friends to really spend some time there,” Amiridis said. “To eat, to be entertained, to spend some time in this area.”

While some restaurants and local convenience stores have set up shop on the road, long stretches are empty or vacant buildings. Investment in the area itself will hopefully lead to investment from more retailers, the project leaders said.

The larger sidewalks will allow restaurants to set up outdoor seating on nice days, with enough space for people to walk past. A long expanse of trees will line the road, separating a bike path from street parking.

Main Street underwent a similar facelift years ago, in which it went from four lanes to two and had much-needed utility improvements. While the original construction was disruptive, it allowed for huge increases in investment and foot traffic, Kennell said.

“It transformed the area literally block by block as the blocks were completed,” Kennell said. “I have no doubt that it will do the same for South Main Street.”

Business owners already in the South Main area were cautiously optimistic about the idea. Strickland, the Which Wich district manager, said he liked the idea but wanted more parking to go with it. A garage in place of a nearby surface lot could help alleviate that problem, he said.

Bushra Ghazi, owner of Shalimar Curry House, looked out her front window on South Main near Devine Street, closer to campus, and pointed out groups of students and people walking dogs as evidence that wider sidewalks would help create more space for people walking.

“They need a wider sidewalk,” she said.

To say the South Main project has been a long time coming is an understatement. The completion date is 120 years after the concept of turning the area into a pedestrian mall first came up in a city plan, Mattox said.

The modern version of the project took shape in the 2017 Capital District Plan, followed by several years of planning and a few years bogged down by funding problems, Mattox said.

With the project about $3 million over budget at the beginning of 2022, the DOT made up the cost with federal funds, allowing construction to finally make headway.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to get it started,” Columbia City Councilman Howard Duvall said.

Ash and charred debris are what remain of the two-story, century-old house at the corner of Pine and Pendleton streets.

Once, Duke Ellington stayed here, maybe Dizzy Gillespie, too, along with dozens of other Black musicians, students and travelers passing through segregated Columbia in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

More recently, the home had fallen into disrepair, with plywood boards where windows should be. Code violations stacked up in recent years, and at least twice, city officials warned property owners that the house could be at risk of demolition.

On Easter Sunday, a fire tore through the home, destroying most of the structure and ending any dreams of rehabilitation.

Dubbed the “Mrs. S.H. Smith Tourist Home” in the “Negro Travelers’ Green Book” — which let Black travelers know it was a safe place to stay in the segregated South — the house was host and home to famous musicians and titans of Columbia’s Black community.

Sisters Simmie Hiller Smith and Bernice Hiller Fambro built the house between 1913 and 1918, on property bought for them by their Black mother, Mary Alice Leaphart Kessler, and their white father, John Henry Hiller.

Simmie Hiller Smith, a dressmaker, turned the home into a tourist house for Black musicians and Allen University students, a service the home offered for nearly 30 years between 1938 and 1967.

Smith’s niece and nephew-in-law, Delores and Benjamin Frazier, lived in the home next. The pair was vital in helping desegregate Columbia.

Benjamin was among the first Black men to integrate Columbia’s Harden Street Fire Station. Their children, Cheryl and Jablanski, were in the first integrated class at Hand Middle School.

“It was one of the places on that side of Columbia as a tourist home that was not only a haven within an African American community, but the people who lived there were also active in the African American community,” said Rebekah Turnmire, a graduate assistant with the University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research. “(The house) is part of the fabric there.”

Turnmire has worked to compile a history on the house. In 2019, she tried to get it added to the National Register of Historic Places. The attempt was unsuccessful. During the process one of the home’s then-owners began tearing the siding off the home, making it no longer “historically intact.”

Turnmire wishes the home could have been listed and protected. While the fire destroyed the house, it was already in disrepair. Many of the homes surrounding the property are occupied by renters, not longtime residents of the Lower Waverly neighborhood. It’s not just one house in Lower Waverly, it’s the slow chipping away at a historic Black neighborhood, she said.

“It’s the continuation of forces that have been around for a long time but that have taken on new names,” she said. “Our city is driven by a real estate market that does not necessarily care about the fabric of neighborhoods as much as it cares about having (rental) housing.”

Today, the home is owned by the LLC Abraham Investments II. The State has not been able to reach the property owner.

David Hatcher, Columbia’s housing official, said permits had recently been issued for work to be done on the home, but prior to that the city was eyeing it for possible demolition.

In 2021, the building was labeled by code enforcement as a suspected vacant building and cited for being unregistered with the city. The next year, code enforcement warned owners the building could be slated for demolition if not improved.

Hatcher said because of the home’s history, he doubts the demolition would have gone forward. Still, the home has been vacant for years.

Columbia fire officials called the fire that destroyed the home suspicious, because the building was not connected to any power source. The fire is still under investigation.

After nearly two years of public meetings, testimony from rental operators and residents, and numerous drafts, the city of Columbia has passed its first rules for short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO.

The new ordinance, passed unanimously Tuesday, has lost some of the teeth Councilman Howard Duvall and neighborhood representatives had hoped for. For instance, it does not include a cap on the number of rentals allowed citywide or restrictions on rentals in residential areas.

Instead, the ordinance requires short-term rentals to apply for permits, just as regular rental properties must, and creates parameters for those permits to be revoked. The goal for now, city leaders say, is to get a sense of how many short-term rentals are in the city and to see where they congregate.

The changes to the original proposal to regulate Airbnbs are largely in response to a bill in the State House that would penalize cities that try to limit short-term rentals.

“I think what we have come up with is a good compromise and a good first step for the city of Columbia,” Duvall told The State. “We have set in place the process for registering and permitting short-term rentals, which will give us a base of information to make further decisions downstream.”

During the nearly two-year effort by the city to regulate short-term rentals, which are properties rented for less than 30 days at a time, neighbors have frequently raised concerns about property maintenance and quality of life. But rental operators have asserted the city has no data to say whether short-term rentals have created a nuisance in neighborhoods.

David Bergmann, who runs the local rental company Heartwood Furnished Homes, has been heavily involved with the city’s process to pass the new regulations. He’s been part of roundtable discussions with neighborhood associations and other rental operators to try to find common ground. In his view, this ordinance accomplishes that.

“If there really are violations that are happening in significant numbers, we’re going to start to see those with the data, and then those can be addressed,” Bergmann said.

The specifics of the law require short-term rental operators to acquire business licenses and to get annual permits for each rental property they oversee. Permits for owner-occupied properties will cost $100, and permits for non-owner-occupied rentals will be $250.

The rental operators will be subject to safety inspections and also must provide neighbors with the address of the rental and their contact information.

The rentals are also required to provide at least two parking spaces, a provision meant to address neighborhood concerns about competing for street parking.

Rental operators can also lose their permits if they rack up enough violations.

The rental fee money will be used to hire potentially two new code enforcement officers whose duties would include monitoring short-term rentals, Duvall said. The fee would also help pay for assistance from a firm specializing in locating short-term rentals to combat unpermitted operators.

Duvall said he thinks after the city has gathered the data through the new permitting process, it should revisit the ordinance.

A handful of state lawmakers have backed a bill that would penalize municipalities that restrict property owners from using their buildings for short-term rentals.

That bill would limit a city’s ability to collect certain taxes and would restrict a city from receiving certain state funds if it chose to limit short-term rentals. That bill remains in the House Committee on Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs.

The pending legislation is one of the major reasons the city’s new ordinance has fewer restrictions than previously proposed.

Still, Duvall and many residents remain opposed to non-owner-occupied rentals in residential areas, which Duvall has previously called boutique hotels and says function more as businesses than residences. He hopes the data the city collects through this initial process will inform that debate in the future.

Rental operators still adamantly oppose would-be restrictions on rentals in residential areas, which they say make up 90-95% of all short-term rentals in the city.

Industry data provided by the site AirDNA suggests there are nearly 1,000 short-term rentals in Columbia, and 86% are non-owner-occupied homes. By comparison, just 14% of the rentals are a private room in a home someone already lives in.

The AirDNA data is nonspecific, in that it does not provide the exact location of rental properties, and city officials have raised questions about its reliability. The new permitting process is meant to help the city get more specific information.

This story was originally published April 4, 2023, 4:39 PM.