Columbia is a charming, walkable county seat on the Pearl River with a historic downtown, parks, friendly neighborhoods and quirky local character (think white squirrels and rodeo history), so multi-week stays feel lived-in rather than lonely. Affordable rentals, local coffee shops, community events and easy access to outdoor time make it an enjoyable base between shifts.
For nights off or weekends, Hattiesburg (≈33 miles) offers universities, restaurants, live music and larger medical/entertainment options, while McComb (≈41 miles) provides bigger-box shopping and rail service — both are roughly an hour’s drive from Columbia.