Philadelphia to Columbia by train
Columbia lies 1,476 km (917 mi) west of Philadelphia, -1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 19 h 58 min at the speeds typical of United States rail, over roughly 1,801 km (1,119 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| Philadelphia | Columbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | United States |
| Population | 1.6 million | 129,330 |
| Elevation | 8 m (26 ft) | 219 m (719 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-4 (America/New_York) | UTC-5 (America/Chicago) |
| Stations on record | Suburban Station, 30th Street Station, North Philadelphia station | Wabash Railroad Station and Freight House |
| Postal codes | 19019–19255 | 65201–65218 |
Clocks in Columbia are 1 h behind Philadelphia right now, so a 19 h 58 min journey lands only 18 h 58 min later by the destination clock.
Where to book trains from Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
1,476 km (917 mi) in a straight line, west of Philadelphia; by road roughly 1,801 km (1,119 mi).
How long does it take to get from Philadelphia to Columbia by train?
About 19 h 58 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Philadelphia and Columbia?
Columbia is 1 h behind at the moment (America/Chicago against America/New_York).
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.