The Best Hotels and B&Bs to Book Near the University of South Carolina

10 minutes’ walk from the South Carolina State Museum, and a mile from the Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park, you’ll find funky rooms and fantastic facilities in this great location. This new hotel offers a colorful and bustling bar featuring a fireplace, and other amenities include a terrace, a fitness room and a pool table, along with a kids’ club, coin-operated laundry facilities, plus a range of tasty breakfast options for an additional fee. It’s a practical option near the main Columbia campus for the whole family.

​​Enjoy the best of both worlds when you visit this bed and breakfast, which offers a mixture of old-world charm and modern convenience, decorated with a mix of antiques and contemporary furniture – all in a restored Southern mansion built in 1912. All rooms feature memory foam mattresses, flat screen TVs with both live and streaming options, free wifi in guest rooms and common areas, and a full Southern breakfast is served every morning around a communal table. The university’s Sumter campus is a stone’s throw away.

Opened in 1910, the historic Partridge Inn, a local institution, has played host to celebrities and presidents since opening its doors. Part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, the sophisticated and well-appointed guest rooms – with light, neutral walls accented by rich, dark decor – feature luxury linens, bath robes, HDTV and beautiful bathrooms. Hotel amenities include a gym, pool and courtyard area, on-site dining, and two bars. Aiken campus is a 25-minute drive away, and Salkehatchie just over an hour away – and there’s golf galore on your doorstep.

Set across from a brewery and next to an urban farm, you’ll find yourself in one of seven cool, industrial chic 1200sqft lofts at Hangar Lofts Hotel. It has features such as exposed brick walls, structural steel beams, concrete floors and countertops – plus oversized commercial-style glass windows with private patios. Formerly hangars servicing Columba’s downtown airport, there are facilities worthy of a first-class lounge, with spa-inspired showers, luxury mattresses and custom-built birch kitchens with Bosch appliances. Ideal if you need a comfy hangout when visiting friends on the Columbia campus.

With everything you’d except from this reliable brand, the Hilton is a two-minute walk to Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and a 13-minute walk to the South Carolina State Museum. The relaxing bedrooms, decorated in earth tones, have free wifi, floor-to-ceiling windows, granite bathrooms and custom-designed beds. Amenities include a steakhouse restaurant, a cocktail bar, a gym and a heated outdoor pool with hot tub.

Graduate Hotels are always so much fun, but in the classiest of ways. Set in a federal-style, red-brick building opposite the University of South Carolina, the playful yet luxurious rooms in this hip, retro-inspired hotel feature plaids, chevron, and even headboards in the shape of cockerels. The welcoming lobby has bright colors and cheery chintz, with a cafe, Poindexter Coffee, for some fuel. Other amenities include complimentary bikes, a gym and a cool little terrace for socializing.

​​Unassuming from the outside, this stylish hotel is housed inside three historic buildings combined into one – the first of its kind in all of Downtown Columbia. The impressive accommodation has an industrial edge, with bare brick walls and exposed ceilings – but all the luxurious touches are here, including a boujee bathroom, coffee maker, robes and slippers, and HDTV. Included with your room is a continental breakfast and a welcome drink, plus an opportunity to make new friends with daily evening socials and snacks.

Located in downtown Columbia, a short walk from Finlay Park and a 30-minute stroll from the EdVenture Children’s Museum, you’ll be wrapped in Southern hospitality from the moment you arrive. The traditional, country-style rooms are named to honor the rich culture and history of Columbia, and complimentary snacks and beverages are always available in the Assembly Room refreshment station for guests. Other facilities include complimentary wifi and off-street parking, and personalized experiences on request.