Cockstock

Amtrak's Silver Star (New York-Washington-Raleigh-Columbia-Savannah-Miami) stops daily in each direction at Columbia station, 850 Pulaski St, which happens to sit in the Vista only about half a mile from Colonial Life Arena, i.e. a genuine walk-to-the-venue rail option, unusual for this region. Note the scheduled stops are middle-of-the-night in both directions (roughly 1-2am southbound/northbound), so pair it with a nearby Vista hotel rather than planning a same-evening arrival.

Intercity coach service reaches Columbia from Charlotte, Charleston, Augusta, Atlanta and other regional cities. The Greyhound stop is at 710A Buckner Rd on the north side of Columbia, about 5-6 miles from the arena, so budget a rideshare or a COMET local route for the last leg. FlixBus also sells Columbia tickets (its stop location has moved between downtown-area lots; check the exact boarding point on the ticket).

The COMET's Route 91 (Springdale/Cayce) serves the Columbia Metropolitan Airport area (stops on Platt Springs Rd/Airport Blvd at the airport campus) and connects to COMET Central, the downtown Columbia transit hub, from which Colonial Life Arena in the Vista is roughly a 15-minute walk or a short local-route hop. Service is roughly hourly on a ~6:15am-7:15pm span, note that span ends early evening, so it works for an arrival-day trip in but NOT as a ride back after an evening concert (Cockstock is an evening event); plan on rideshare/taxi for the return leg. Pay on board or via the Transit App / Token Transit mobile passes.

Both Uber and Lyft operate at CAE with pickup on the lower level of the baggage claim area in front of the parking garage; taxis pick up from the same lower level. Airport taxi metered rate is $2 flag drop plus $2.50/mile, which puts the ~7-8 road miles to the arena/downtown around $20-30; rideshare typically similar or slightly less off-peak. This is the practical door-to-door option, and the only realistic airport option after an evening show (COMET Route 91 stops running early evening).

822 Gervais St. ~0.5 mi walk; repeatedly listed among the closest walkable hotels to the arena on travel platforms

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

180 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29210

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

450 Gracern Road, Columbia, SC 29210

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

4488 Fort Jackson Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29209

Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

630 Assembly St, ~0.3 mi / ~7-min walk to Colonial Life Arena

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

819 Gervais St, in the Vista. ~0.4 mi / ~10-min walk to the arena. Hyatt's own page markets itself as a 'Hotel Near Colonial Life Arena'

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

~0.6 mi walk to the arena through the Vista entertainment district

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

1619 Pendleton St, on the USC campus side. ~0.8 mi to the arena; the natural pick for parents/alumni visiting for a campus event

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

1611 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

823 Lady Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

1400 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

110 Branch Road, West Columbia, SC 29170

Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

2245 Airport Boulevard, Cayce, SC 29033

Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

2208 Airport Boulevard, West Columbia, SC 29170

Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates

Columbia has a modest but real short-term-rental market concentrated in the Vista, Shandon and near-campus neighborhoods, all a walk or short rideshare from the arena. Columbia's real lodging price spikes track USC football weekends and graduation, not this event.

Weak-fit tier, honestly noted: Cockstock is a single January evening at a downtown arena, so camping is neither offered nor sensible for this event (winter overnight lows in Columbia commonly hit the 30s F). For anyone making a longer trip of it, Hipcamp's Columbia-area directory covers private-land sites around the Midlands, the Lake Murray and Sesquicentennial/Fort Jackson fringes are the nearest rural belts, but every option is a drive, not an alternative to a Vista hotel for the show itself.