Grab your bags, walk out of arrivals at Columbia, SC Airport (CAE-Columbia Metropolitan), and pick up your rental car. Which one you hop into depends on where you’re venturing. If you’ll be spending a good deal of time driving in downtown Columbia, around 7 miles from the terminal, consider something zippy. A compact car that’s easy to maneuver will be ideal for those busy streets. But with a smorgasbord of things to see, like the striking sandy shores of the surrounding area, there’s a good chance you’ll rack up those miles. A bigger vehicle, like a full-size car or an SUV, will make longer road trips more comfortable.