Looking for cheap fun in SC? Here are 10 of the best budget-friendly things to do in Columbia
Are you planning a big family vacation this summer or will you cut back?
Let’s face it, everything is more expensive these days. From food, to gas, and hotels — costs keep rising. And then there’s the growing economic uncertainty from the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China.
And yet, there’s still plenty of fun to be had in South Carolina for those on a budget. For instance, have you considered Columbia?
Whether you live in the Soda City or are just visiting, Columbia is full of entertainment for the whole family that won’t break the bank.
Here are the 10 best-rated and budget-friendly things to do in Columbia, according to Tripadvisor.
#1 Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (2,970 reviews)
- Cost: $24.99 for one adult/ $21.99 for a child
- Website: www.riverbanks.org
Few children are likely to turn down a trip to the zoo. Riverbanks first opened its gates on April 25, 1974, and today is one of the largest mid-sized zoos in the U.S. as well as among the state’s leading destination attractions.
The zoo boasts more than 3,000 magnificent animals. And then there’s the botanical garden, which first opened in 1995 and today features more than 5,700 species of native and exotic plants.
#2 South Carolina State Museum
- Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (655 reviews)
- Cost: $13 for one adult/ $10 for one child
- Website: scmuseum.org
Located in downtown Columbia, the state museum features four floors of permanent and changing exhibits, a digital dome planetarium, a 4D interactive theater, and an observatory. It’s the largest museum in the Southeast, boasting 210,000 gross square feet and 100,000 square feet of exhibit space. And the museum is more like four museums in one, with sections on art, history, natural history, science, and technology.
#3 Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (390 reviews)
- Cost: Free
- Website: www.sctrails.net/trails/trail/riverfront-park
You can’t get much more budget-friendly than free. Featuring 4 miles of flat, easy-walking paved trail, Riverfront Park opened in 1983 and was built around the city’s original waterworks. The park is about 167 acres and separates the Historic Columbia Canal and the Congaree River. There is also a brick amphitheater and a self-guided walkway by the old parts of the water plant.
#4 South Carolina State House
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (673 reviews)
- Cost: Free
- Website: www.studentconnection.scstatehouse.gov
The historic South Carolina State House was built in 1903, replacing the previous State House in Columbia that was destroyed by fire in 1865 during the Civil War.
Tours are offered every half hour beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. No tours are offered at 12 p.m. or 12:30 p.m. The State House is also open on Saturdays, with tours given at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
#5 University of South Carolina
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (425 reviews)
- Cost: Free
- Website: sc.edu
Unless you’re planning to enroll, the University of South Carolina is a cheap way to do some historic sightseeing and get your steps in. The more than 200-year-old campus has plenty of interesting buildings and sites, but a visit isn’t complete without a glimpse of the historic Horseshoe. The U-shaped original campus — once called South Carolina College — includes the architectural design and influence of Robert Mills, the nation’s first federal architect and designer of the Washington Monument.
Below are five more budget-friendly activities to try in Columbia:
6. Soda City Market
- Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (100 reviews)
- Cost: Free to enter
- Website: sodacitysc.com
7. South Carolina Military Museum
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (97 reviews)
- Cost: Free
- Website: www.scmilitarymuseum.com
8. EdVenture Children’s Museum
- Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (405 reviews)
- Cost: $13 for children and adults
- Website: edventure.org
9. Columbia Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (289 reviews)
- Cost: $10 for adults/ $5 for students/ $8 for military and seniors
- Website: www.columbiamuseum.org
- Note: The galleries are temporarily closed for a lighting update project. They will begin reopening on May 24.
10. Sesquicentennial State Park
- Rating: 4 out of 5 (189 reviews)
- Cost: $6 for adults/ $3.50 for children/ $3.75 for seniors
- Website: southcarolinaparks.com/sesqui
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
