About this Location

Facility Overview

Situated in downtown Columbia at 311 Washington Street, the 700 Taylor St Parking facility provides convenient and easily accessible surface parking on the western edge of the city center. Set close to the Congaree River and the historic Congaree Vista district, this open-air parking lot features clear directional markings and straightforward drive aisles. Because it is an unobstructed outdoor surface lot, it offers an advantage over low-clearance parking garages, boasting virtually unlimited vertical clearance. This makes it an ideal parking solution not only for compacts and sedans, but also for full-size pickup trucks, large SUVs, utility vehicles, and high-roof vans.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

This parking location serves as a versatile gateway to Columbia’s most popular arts, dining, educational, and sports venues:

The Congaree Vista: Just a 5 to 10-minute walk east along Gervais, Lady, or Washington streets brings visitors directly to dozens of premier restaurants, craft breweries, art galleries, and lively evening venues.
South Carolina State Museum & EdVenture: Located less than a 10-minute stroll south along Huger and Gervais streets, offering top-tier cultural and family-friendly experiences.
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center: Situated about 10 to 12 minutes on foot, making this lot a viable overflow option for large expos, conferences, and banquets.
Colonial Life Arena: Located approximately 12 to 15 minutes away, providing practical parking for University of South Carolina Gamecocks basketball games, major arena tours, and live concerts.
Columbia Riverfront Park & Historic Columbia Canal: Located just blocks to the west, perfect for walkers, runners, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts exploring the riverbanks.
South Carolina State House: Approximately 15 minutes away along Gervais Street, anchoring downtown government offices and Main Street dining.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

The facility provides seamless vehicular ingress and egress directly from Washington Street, with immediate access to Huger Street (US-21 / US-321 / US-176) and Gervais Street (US-1 / US-378). Huger Street acts as a critical north-south arterial corridor linking directly toward I-126 and I-26 to the north and Cayce/West Columbia to the south across the Blossom Street and Gervais Street bridges. Public transit is readily available through The COMET (Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority), which operates regular bus routes along nearby Gervais and Assembly streets, connecting directly to the transit hub and the broader metro area.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-air surface parking with straightforward pull-in spaces
Unlimited overhead vertical clearance suitable for oversize vehicles and trucks
Digital pay-by-cell options via mobile parking applications or on-site signage instructions
Designated accessible (ADA) parking stalls near main entrance points
Well-illuminated exterior lighting for evening and nighttime parking
Immediate access to major thoroughfares (Huger St and Gervais St) avoiding heavy core downtown pedestrian bottlenecks

Ideal For

Event & Arena Attendees: Visitors attending concerts, graduations, or Gamecocks basketball games at Colonial Life Arena.
Vista Diners & Nightlife Guests: Patrons heading to dinner and drinks in the Vista who want to park just outside the densest parking congestion.
Museum & Park Visitors: Families visiting EdVenture Children’s Museum, the SC State Museum, or walking the Columbia Riverfront Canal trails.
Commuters & Contractors: Daily workers and tradespeople driving work vans or trucks that cannot fit into standard downtown parking decks.

Visitor & Driver Tips

During major arena concerts or university events, traffic along Huger and Gervais streets can back up significantly; arriving 45 to 60 minutes before scheduled start times will ensure stress-free parking. Take note of your license plate number and have your mobile phone ready to initiate parking sessions quickly via posted mobile app codes. When leaving post-event, using Washington Street to merge smoothly north or west onto Huger Street will allow you to bypass central Vista traffic and access I-126 with ease.