Columbia

Introduction

Columbia is a Midwestern college town in Boone County, Missouri, and the seat of that county. It was founded in 1821 and is the principal city of its metropolitan area. The University of Missouri, a major research institution known as MU or Mizzou, anchors the city, and Stephens College and Columbia College add to its educational focus. With those institutions come a large student presence and a downtown that sits alongside the university.

The city is among the most-educated in the United States, with about half of residents being college graduates and about a quarter holding advanced degrees. It is also the fastest-growing municipality in Missouri, having expanded substantially since 2000. For a visitor, that combination shapes the place: a university-driven downtown, a steady influx of new residents, and a population with a strong academic bent.

Getting around

Columbia has no metro, light rail, tram, or commuter rail, so plan on buses, taxis, ride-hailing, and your own two feet. The regional bus network, The COMET, is the main car-free option, connecting the city center with surrounding Midlands communities. Before you travel, check the Moovit app for real-time arrivals, service alerts, and route planning, and load a pass onto Token Transit so you can board without hunting for a ticket counter. The COMET also partners with local organizations on community events, including free transit access days, which are worth watching for if your visit coincides with one.

Walking works well in the downtown and university districts, where destinations cluster closely enough to cover on foot; outside those pockets the city spreads out, so plan to walk within a district and ride between districts. For door-to-door trips, especially in the evening or to points that don't line up with a bus route, taxis and ride-hailing fill the gaps. From the airport on the city's outskirts, your realistic options are a taxi, a ride-hailing pickup, or a rental car, with the COMET as a possibility only if a route fits your arrival point and schedule—check Moovit on arrival to see whether one does.

Three days in Columbia

Day one: Start by getting oriented in Columbia, a Midwestern city in Boone County, Missouri. Use The COMET to move between areas, and download the Moovit and Token Transit apps to plan trips and pay fares. Walking is a good way to cover ground once you are in a neighbourhood, and you can build the rest of your day around the city's three colleges: MU (Mizzou), Stephens College and Columbia College.

Day two: Turn your attention to The University and its surroundings. MU, known as Mizzou, anchors the city, and Stephens College and Columbia College give Columbia its college-town character. Use The COMET or walk between stops, and keep Moovit and Token Transit on hand for planning and fares.

Day three: Spend a final day moving around Columbia by The COMET and on foot, filling in any parts of the city you have not yet seen. With Moovit and Token Transit you can check routes and pay as you go, and you can revisit the campuses of MU, Stephens College and Columbia College before you leave.