Overview
Lexington is a town of 24,000 people (2020) in Lexington County, South Carolina and a suburb of Columbia, the state's capital. There are a few attractions locally, and Columbia has several great attractions.
4 sights · 4 things to do · 5 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Lexington
James Harman Building
The James Harman Building, also known as the Gantt Building, is a historical building located north of Main Street in downtown. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as no. 83003903. It was built in 19…
Lexington County Museum
It has a variety of relocated historical buildings, and occasionally hosts events.
Virginia Hilton Park
A park located south of downtown. There are walking paths through a forested area, a playground, a small creek running through a slot canyon, and ponds. Since 2019 it has been part of an expansion project.
Icehouse Amphitheater
The Icehouse Amphitheater occasionally hosts concerts and gigs and has a farmer's market every Saturday from May to September, 9AM to 1PM.
Christmas Parade
Annually in early to mid-December. Several floats, vehicles, and people pass down main street as people gather around.
St. Patrick's Day Parade
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Summer highs reach about 93°F; winter lows dip to about 35°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jul and Jun. (climate data from nearby Columbia)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CAE Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Columbia — 7 mi away. Directions
- AGS Augusta Regional At Bush Field, Augusta — 60 mi away. Directions
- CLT Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte — 87 mi away (major hub). Directions
Interstate 20 goes past Lexington to the south and east. Downtown is easily reached by US 1, US 370, and SC 6. It is about 20 minutes west of Columbia.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Virginia Hilton Park, Icehouse Amphitheater, Christmas Parade
- Lunch Alodia's Cucina Italiana
- Afternoon St. Patrick's Day Parade, James Harman Building
- Dinner Nicky's Pizzeria
Day 2
- Morning Lexington County Museum
- Lunch O'Hara's Public House
- Afternoon Craft Axe Throwing
- Dinner Bodhi Thai Dining
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Several chain restaurants exist outside of downtown, including fast food such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Sonic, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Rush's, Arby's, and Hardee's, and fast casual, such as Chili's, Chipotle's, and Moe's. Several fancier dining options are available in walking distance of downtown, including:
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By car
Interstate 20 goes past Lexington to the south and east. Downtown is easily reached by US 1, US 370, and SC 6. It is about 20 minutes west of Columbia.
By plane
Go Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE)
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is located in neighboring suburb Springdale. There are non-stop flights to Columbia Metropolitan Airport from the following cities (some cities may be seasonal or only offer service certain days of the week): Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas Fort Worth, Detroit, Houston, Newark, New York, Philadelphia and Washington.
Get around
As a suburban town, Lexington is spread out and a car is necessary for visiting most of the town. However, downtown is walkable and there are a number of attractions located in and around it.
See
As a suburb of Columbia, there is not much to do in Lexington. However, there are a few sites worth visiting, and Columbia has several great attractions.
See Virginia Hilton Park
A park located south of downtown. There are walking paths through a forested area, a playground, a small creek running through a slot canyon, and ponds. Since 2019 it has been part of an expansion project.
See Icehouse Amphitheater
The Icehouse Amphitheater occasionally hosts concerts and gigs and has a farmer's market every Saturday from May to September, 9AM to 1PM.
See James Harman Building (Gantt Building)
The James Harman Building, also known as the Gantt Building, is a historical building located north of Main Street in downtown. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as no. 83003903. It was built in 1901 and is one of 5 buildings that survived a fire in 1916. Besides this, it is an insignificant building and now a law firm.
Do
Do Christmas Parade
Annually in early to mid-December. Several floats, vehicles, and people pass down main street as people gather around.
Do St. Patrick's Day Parade
Do Craft Axe Throwing (Axe, Hatchet or Tomahawk Throwing)
A destination for axe-throwing, tomahawk, and hatchet enthusiasts. Craft beverages are available. Groups and parties welcome. Experts will guide you through axe-throwing, ensuring a safe and entertaining experience for all skill levels.
Buy
A number of chain stores and supermarkets can be found in Lexington, mainly on US 378 north of downtown. Some stores include Walmart, Target, Publix, Food Lion, Lowes Foods, Big Lots, Piggly-Wiggly, Aldi, Lidl, CVS, Walgreens, Lowes, Home Depot, Kohls, TJ Maxx, Petco, PetSmart, Books a Million, and Hobby Lobby. Several small and local stores and shops can be found:
Eat
Several chain restaurants exist outside of downtown, including fast food such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Sonic, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Rush's, Arby's, and Hardee's, and fast casual, such as Chili's, Chipotle's, and Moe's. Several fancier dining options are available in walking distance of downtown, including:
Eat Alodia's Cucina Italiana
Upscale Italian dishes, including pasta, salads, and seafood.
Eat Nicky's Pizzeria
Traditional New York style pizza, available in slices and whole pizzas.
Eat O'Hara's Public House
A pub with traditional Irish food and beer.
Eat Bodhi Thai Dining
Gourmet Thai dishes in a modern environment.
Eat Groucho's Deli
Deli with traditional sandwiches and sides.
Drink
Bars
There are a few bars in Lexington, including O'Hara's, listed under Eat, the Old Mill Brewpub, on East Main Street at the Lexington Mill Pond, and Keg Cowboy Bar, next to Nicky's Pizzeria. Most restaurants offer a selection of beers and wines.
Cafes
There are also a few cafes in Lexington, including chains like Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and Biggby, but also local ones like O'Hara's Bakery Café (owned by O'Hara's but not the same), and Cafe Strudel, on South Lake Drive.
Sleep
Stay Quality Inn & Suites
Go next
The obvious place to go next is Columbia. There are several great attractions listed on its page.
Nearby
Columbia
City / town · 41 listings · 11 mi away
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Aiken
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Ninety Six
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Sumter
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Greenwood
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Augusta
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My experience
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