Game-day shuttle from Lincoln at Devine to the Fairgrounds, $5 round trip. Downtown district with public art, live music and bars, and a shuttle stop on its doorstep.
JOSHV PR, Google Maps
Five Points and the USC campusVisiting fans pick this
Game-day shuttle from the Russell House (1400 Greene St.) to the Fairgrounds, $5 round trip. Closest bar district to the stadium and the heart of the student scene.
L. Hardeman, Google Maps
Main Street, downtown
Walk to the Lincoln at Devine shuttle stop, or drive and park in a lot. Columbia's cultural core by the State House, with the Saturday Soda City Market.
Around the stadium
From a specialist guide
Five Points, Columbia's historic bar and food district by the University of South Carolina campus, where Harden Street, Devine Street and Santee Avenue meet. The stadium itself sits by the State Fairgrounds, so most fans drink in Five Points or tailgate in the lots.
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place.
Getting to Williams-Brice Stadium
From Columbia Metropolitan
Checked at the source
CAE Columbia Metropolitan Airport, southwest of Columbia, with nonstops to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, Newark, Philadelphia and Washington. Rideshare and taxis wait at the terminal.
On game day
Checked at the source
Game-day shuttle from Lincoln at Devine to Inside the Fairgrounds. Game-day shuttle from the Russell House to Inside the Fairgrounds. Drive and park in the Fairgrounds. South Carolina State Fairgrounds, east of Assembly Street.
Parking and tailgating at Williams-Brice Stadium
Tailgating
Checked at the source
Fans tailgate in Gamecock Park, the Fairgrounds and Woodstock lots around the stadium. Tailgate within your own parking space. Gamecock Park opens six hours before kickoff, other lots five hours before, never earlier than 8 AM. Tents up to 10 by 10 feet that fit inside your space. Gas grills are fine; charcoal is banned. No live music at tailgates, and leave the glass at home. Game-day RV parking is in the Fairgrounds on the east side of Assembly Street (803-799-3387) and at Gate 12 on Rosewood Drive. 22 cabooses sit on an unused track behind the south end of the stadium and serve as private tailgate spots, the most famous in Columbia. The school's fan zone opened at 8 AM for the 2025 Clemson game, with live music, food and drink, and games.
Game day at Williams-Brice Stadium
Getting in
Checked at the source
Bag policy: Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. One clear bag plus one clutch per person. No backpacks, fanny packs, drawstring bags or camera bags.
Cashless: Concessions take no cash. Reverse ATMs at the West Main and East Ground levels turn cash into a debit card.
Re-entry: No re-entry. Tickets are mobile only and scan once.
After the final whistle
Checked at the source
After the game all lanes of Assembly Street carry traffic away from the stadium, with the two left lanes turning onto Blossom Street. Traffic from South Stadium Road goes south on Bluff Road to I-77 North or South. The game-day shuttle runs from the Fairgrounds back to the Russell House and Lincoln at Devine until two hours after the game.
One thing to avoid
From a specialist guide
Don't park on Key Road, Market Street, South Stadium Road, National Guard Road, Shop Road or Hemlock Road on game day: fines run $20 to $155, plus a $125 tow.
Food and drink at Williams-Brice Stadium
Bars near the stadium
From a specialist guide
Touchdowns, Google Maps
Touchdowns
715 Harden Street, Columbia, SC
Bar on Harden Street, the spine of Five Points, surrounded by the district's other bars and late-night food.
Away fans: bar in the middle of the main game-day strip.
Taneyhill's Group Therapy, Google Maps
Taneyhill's Group Therapy
2107 Greene St, Columbia, SC
Neighborhood bar on Greene Street in Five Points, a short walk from Harden Street.
Away fans: a Five Points bar on Greene Street with a mixed crowd.
Village Idiot Pizza, Google Maps
Village Idiot Pizza
2009 Devine Street, Columbia, SC
A Columbia pizza and beer spot for 35 years, with daily specials and a monthly feature pie.
Away fans: come one, come all: students, families and visitors.
Michael Young, Google Maps
Home Team BBQ
700 Harden Street, Columbia, SC
Barbecue restaurant at the top of Harden Street, a solid base before heading to the bars.
Away fans: barbecue and drinks on the main Five Points strip.
Things to do around Williams-Brice Stadium
Listed in the order they happen on game day. Each one earns points.
Landmark40 points
Find the bronze stars on the State House
Six bronze stars on the State House walls mark where Sherman's cannons hit the building.
Free. The day before
Drink65 points
Friday night in Five Points
Columbia's first neighborhood shopping district is now its main bar strip, packed with USC students and visiting fans on game weekends.
$$. 18 hours before kickoff
Photo65 points
See the Cockaboose Railroad
22 cabooses on a dead track behind the south end zone make up the most unusual tailgate row in the country.
Free. 3 hours before kickoff
Ritual75 points
Gamecock Walk on Tommy Suggs Garnet Way
The team arrives along Tommy Suggs Garnet Way about two hours before kickoff. Get there early for a spot on the rail.
Free. 2 hours 15 minutes before kickoff
Ritual90 points
Be in your seat for 2001 and Sandstorm
The Gamecocks run out to the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, which Sporting News called the most exciting entrance in college football. Sandstorm follows before kickoff.
Free. 15 minutes before kickoff
Outing75 points
Congaree National Park boardwalk
18 miles southeast of Columbia, a 2.4 mile boardwalk loop runs through the largest old-growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.
Free. The day before
Seats and views at Williams-Brice Stadium
Where each part of the stadium sits, and what you see from it.
Lower bowl1 to 34Club and suite level101 to 109 and 201 to 209Upper level301 to 309 and 601 to 606Tap any part of the stadium to see its view.
