Houston to Columbia by train
Columbia lies 1,431 km (889 mi) north-east of Houston, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 19 h 22 min at the speeds typical of United States rail, over roughly 1,746 km (1,085 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Houston | Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 2.3 million | 142,416 |
| Elevation | 30 m (98 ft) | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) | UTC-4 (America/New_York) |
| Stations on record | Houston station, Union Station | Columbia station, Union Station (Columbia) |
| Postal codes | 77001–77299 | 29201–29292 |
Clocks in Columbia are 1 h ahead of Houston right now, so a 19 h 22 min journey lands 20 h 22 min later by the destination clock.
Where to book trains from Houston to Columbia
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Staying in Columbia
Live rooms and prices for Columbia are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Columbia
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Columbia from Houston?
1,431 km (889 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Houston; by road roughly 1,746 km (1,085 mi).
How long does it take to get from Houston to Columbia by train?
About 19 h 22 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Houston and Columbia?
Columbia is 1 h ahead at the moment (America/New_York against America/Chicago).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.