Columbia, South Carolina to Fort Lauderdale: Road Trip Guide & Distance

547 miles 880.3 km · straight line
656.4 miles estimated 1056.4 km · driving distance
13h 12min estimated drive time
$63 - $78 estimated fuel cost
~1h 36min flight time
174° S bearing direction

How far is Columbia, South Carolina from Fort Lauderdale?

The distance from Columbia, South Carolina to Fort Lauderdale is 547 miles (880.3 km) as the crow flies. Fort Lauderdale is located S of Columbia, South Carolina. By car, the driving distance is approximately 656.4 miles, taking about 13h 12min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 36min. Both are located in United States — Columbia, South Carolina in South Carolina and Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. As you head South, expect warmer temperatures. Make sure your car's AC is working well before embarking on this journey.

Coordinates come from public place data for Columbia, South Carolina and Fort Lauderdale. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Columbia, South Carolina to Fort Lauderdale

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 13h 12min $63 - $78 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 36min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~15h 50min $53–$98* Budget
Train ~17h 10min $79–$230* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Columbia, South Carolina & Fort Lauderdale

Quick Facts

Columbia, South Carolina
34.00°N, 81.03°W
America/New_York
89m elevation
Fort Lauderdale
26.12°N, 80.14°W
America/New_York
3m elevation
Explore more routes from Fort Lauderdale

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 182 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 46 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 45.5 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients