Monitor Columbia Traffic Live
Track real-time conditions across South Carolina's capital with 340+ traffic cameras covering I-26, I-77, I-20, and the notorious Malfunction Junction interchange. Our interactive map provides real-time access to live street feeds and intersection cameras throughout downtown Columbia and the University of South Carolina area. Free 24/7 SCDOT feeds help you navigate one of the Southeast's busiest convergence zones. According to SCDOT traffic analysis, high-volume surface streets like Assembly Street carry over 25,500 vehicles daily, making real-time visibility essential for daily commuters.
Access TrafficVision.live's network of 135,000+ cameras from 600+ sources worldwide. Stay ahead of congestion, construction, and weather delays.
View Columbia Cameras →Columbia's Traffic Camera Network
Columbia sits at the intersection of three major interstates serving South Carolina's capital region. With a metro population of 840,000, the University of South Carolina's 35,000 students, Fort Jackson military base traffic, and state government commuters, the camera network provides critical visibility across rush hours, game days, and hurricane evacuations.
I-26 & I-126 - 115+ Cameras
Coastal connector and downtown spur with heaviest volumes. I-26 runs northwest to Spartanburg and southeast to Charleston. I-126 is a short but vital link from I-26 to downtown and the Capitol complex.
I-77 - 95+ Cameras
North-south corridor linking Charlotte to Columbia and beyond. Heavy commuter traffic from bedroom communities in northern metro counties. Critical for interstate commerce and Carolinas connectivity.
I-20 - 80+ Cameras
East-west transcontinental route from Florence to Augusta and Atlanta. Major freight corridor with consistent truck traffic. Key evacuation route during coastal hurricane events.
US-1 & SC-321 - 50+ Cameras
Urban arterials serving downtown, USC campus, Fort Jackson, and residential areas. High congestion during university events and military graduation weekends.
Check Traffic Before You Drive
View live conditions on I-26, I-77, I-20, and Malfunction Junction. Spot delays, accidents, and backups in real-time with SCDOT cameras.
View Live Cameras →Key Interstate Corridors
I-20/I-26/I-126 Malfunction Junction
The most complex and congested interchange in South Carolina where three interstates converge. Multiple exit-only lanes, weaving patterns, and confusing signage create bottlenecks during rush hours. Ranked 121st for traffic congestion in the United States by INRIX in 2024, Columbia drivers lost an average of 18 hours to delays last year. TomTom 2025 data indicates an average congestion level of 36.6% for the metro area, with "Malfunction Junction" serving as the primary source of these delays.
Malfunction Junction
- I-20 EB → I-126 W — Exit-only left lanes to downtown
- I-26 NW → I-20 EB — High-speed merge with short acceleration lane
- I-126 EB → I-26 SE — Two-lane split toward Charleston
- I-20 WB → I-77 NB — Truck-heavy merge to Charlotte
Navigate Malfunction Junction
First-timers: Use cameras to preview lane positions before arrival. Exit-only lanes are poorly marked. Get in the correct lane early—last-minute merges cause crashes. Check live feeds during rush hour (7-9 AM, 4-6:30 PM) to avoid backups.
I-26 Corridor
I-26 runs 221 miles across South Carolina from the North Carolina border through Columbia to Charleston. In the Columbia metro, it serves as the primary northwest-southeast route connecting the capital to the coast and Upstate cities.
I-26 Key Segments - Columbia
- I-126 to I-77 — Malfunction Junction core, heaviest congestion
- Bush River Rd to Piney Grove Rd — Northwest Exits, suburban sprawl
- Harbison area (Exit 101-103) — Shopping district, frequent slowdowns
- I-20 to SC-48 — Southeast leg toward Charleston, hurricane evacuation route
115+ cameras monitor I-26 from the Newberry County line through Columbia to Calhoun County. Peak congestion occurs at Harbison Boulevard (Exit 103) near the shopping district and at Malfunction Junction during commute hours.
I-77 Corridor
I-77 provides the critical north-south link between Charlotte and Columbia, continuing south to the coast. The Columbia segment carries heavy commuter traffic from northern suburbs and serves as a major freight route for goods moving between the Carolinas.
95+ cameras track I-77 from the Fairfield County line south through Columbia to the Richland-Calhoun border. Blythewood area (Exit 27-34) sees increasing residential development and commuter volumes. I-20 interchange is another major merge point with truck traffic.
I-20 Corridor
I-20 spans 1,539 miles coast-to-coast, with its South Carolina segment running 141 miles from Georgia to Florence. Through Columbia, it serves transcontinental freight, regional commuters, and coastal evacuees during hurricane season.
80+ cameras cover I-20 from Lexington County through Columbia to Kershaw County. The Broad River crossing and I-77 merge are frequent bottleneck locations. During coastal hurricane evacuations, I-20 westbound becomes a designated evacuation route with contraflow lanes potentially activated.
SCDOT 511
South Carolina Department of Transportation operates all traffic cameras. Access feeds via SC511.org or dial 511. Real-time alerts for incidents, construction, and road closures. Free service available 24/7.
Monitor Your Commute Route
Save frequent routes and favorite cameras. Get a personalized view of your daily drive across Columbia's interstate network.
Save Favorite Cameras →High-Traffic Zones
University of South Carolina Campus
35,000 students generate significant traffic around the downtown campus. Assembly Street, Blossom Street, and Gervais Street experience heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic between classes. Game days at Williams-Brice Stadium (80,250 capacity) create gridlock on surrounding roads.
Football Saturdays: Arrive early or avoid the area entirely. Stadium traffic impacts I-26, I-77, and US-378 for hours before and after kickoff.
Downtown & Capitol Complex
State government employees, legislative sessions, and downtown businesses create consistent weekday rush hour congestion. Gervais Street, Main Street, and Bull Street are primary downtown corridors. Users can also monitor live street feeds along Gervais Street and Assembly Street to check for road-level gridlock near the State House or local campus events. Limited parking drives circling traffic.
Fort Jackson
The U.S. Army's largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center generates 24/7 traffic. Jackson Boulevard (US-76/378) is the main gate access road. Graduation weeks see family traffic surges. Military convoys occasionally impact nearby highways.
Congaree River Crossings
Limited bridge options create chokepoints. Gervais Street Bridge serves downtown. Blossom Street Bridge (US-1) carries USC traffic. I-126/US-26 crossing is critical for interstate flow. Any incident on a bridge backs up traffic for miles.
Hurricane Evacuations
Columbia is a primary inland destination during coastal evacuations. I-26 westbound from Charleston experiences massive volume increases. Expect heavy traffic, fuel shortages, and highway patrol presence. Monitor cameras for real-time conditions. SCDOT may activate contraflow operations (reversing lanes) on I-26 during major storms.
Rush Hour & Peak Times
Columbia traffic peaks during standard commute hours, with additional spikes from university and military schedules:
- Morning rush: 7:00-9:00 AM (inbound to downtown, USC, Fort Jackson)
- Evening rush: 4:00-6:30 PM (outbound to suburbs, extended on Fridays)
- USC game days: All-day congestion (typically Saturdays in fall)
- State legislature sessions: January-May weekday increases downtown
- Fort Jackson graduations: Bi-weekly Thursday spikes near base
The average one-way commute in Columbia is approximately 15 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the national average of 26 minutes, though university and government schedules can cause temporary gridlock. Richland County, encompassing the Columbia metro area, records approximately 18,600 traffic accidents annually—representing nearly 10% of all crashes statewide—making real-time monitoring of intersection and highway feeds critical for safety.
Summer thunderstorms (June-August) frequently strike during afternoon rush hour, reducing visibility and causing hydroplaning incidents. Monitor cameras for weather-related slowdowns.
Beat Columbia Traffic
Early birds win: Leave before 7 AM or after 9 AM to avoid worst backups. Alternate routes: Surface streets like Two Notch Road or Forest Drive can bypass interstate jams. Game day planning: If USC plays at home, avoid Williams-Brice area entirely or arrive 3+ hours early.
Weather & Road Conditions
South Carolina's humid subtropical climate brings year-round weather impacts:
Summer heat & storms: Afternoon thunderstorms produce heavy rain, flash flooding, and reduced visibility. Cameras help identify flooded underpasses and standing water on highways.
Winter ice: While rare, ice storms paralyze Columbia (2014 event stranded thousands). Even light ice shuts down the city—schools close, bridges freeze first.
Hurricane season: June-November brings coastal evacuations. Columbia cameras monitor incoming traffic surges on I-26 from Charleston.
Fog: Morning fog along the Congaree River and floodplain areas reduces visibility.
Stay Weather-Aware
Check live camera feeds before driving during storms, fog, or hurricane evacuations. See actual road conditions, not just forecasts.
View Current Conditions →Planning Your Columbia Drive
Use TrafficVision.live's Columbia cameras to make informed routing decisions:
- Check your route 10-15 minutes before departure
- Identify bottlenecks at Malfunction Junction, river bridges, and USC area
- Monitor weather impacts during summer storm season
- Plan alternates if major incidents block your primary route
- Save favorites for quick access to your frequent corridors
340+ cameras provide comprehensive coverage of Columbia's interstate network, major arterials, and downtown corridors. SCDOT updates feeds 24/7 with minimal delay.
Related Resources
- South Carolina Traffic Cameras — Statewide coverage with 1,200+ cameras
- Charleston Traffic Cameras — Coastal city with 180+ cameras
- Charlotte Traffic Cameras — I-77 destination with 950+ cameras
- Getting Started with Traffic Cameras — Beginner's guide to using live feeds
How many traffic cameras cover Columbia SC?
340+ SCDOT cameras monitor Columbia's highways, including 115+ on I-26/I-126, 95+ on I-77, 80+ on I-20, and 50+ on urban arterials. All feeds are free and available 24/7.
Where is Malfunction Junction?
Malfunction Junction is the local nickname for the I-20/I-26/I-126 interchange in downtown Columbia. It's notorious for confusing exit-only lanes, high-speed merges, and heavy congestion during rush hours.
Do Columbia traffic cameras work during evacuations?
Yes. SCDOT cameras remain operational during hurricane evacuations. Monitor I-26 westbound for incoming traffic from Charleston. Be aware that high demand may slow feed loading times during major events.
What's the best time to drive through Columbia?
Mid-morning (9:30 AM - 3:00 PM) and late evening (after 7:00 PM) see the lightest traffic. Avoid 7-9 AM and 4-6:30 PM rush hours. Never travel through Columbia on USC football game days unless necessary.
Are Columbia traffic cameras free to view?
Yes. All 340+ cameras are operated by SCDOT and available free via SC 511, TrafficVision.live, and other platforms. No registration or fees required.
Where can I find Columbia street feeds?
You can find live Columbia street feeds and intersection cameras by using our interactive map, which aggregates SCDOT data for major surface routes like Main Street and Blossom Street.
Start Monitoring Columbia Traffic
View 340+ live SCDOT cameras and city street feeds across Columbia. Check conditions before you drive, save your commute route, and check city street feeds instantly.
Join thousands using TrafficVision.live to navigate South Carolina's capital region safely and efficiently.
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