Origin
Aiken, SC
Afternoon in Aiken on Friday
Local time
1:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Aiken, SC to Cayce, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Aiken, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Cayce, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Aiken, SC to Cayce, SC covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, Augusta Road, Columbia Highway North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.8 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 51.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and Augusta Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.8 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Augusta Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.7 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East
Turn right onto US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East
Navigation decision point
3
8.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
8.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Columbia Airport, West Columbia, Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 58
Toward US 1: Columbia Airport, West Columbia, L...
3
49.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Aiken, SC and Cayce, SC, road signs point toward Columbia and Lexington.
Columbia
43.5 mi in
|
~50m
Lexington
43.5 mi in
|
~50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 34.8 mi | 38m |
| Augusta Road | 6 mi | 9m |
| Columbia Highway North | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| York Street Northeast | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Dreher Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Williams Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Middleton Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Chesterfield Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 34.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aiken, SC and Cayce, SC.
1
Start on SC 19
387 ft
·
13 sec
·
Chesterfield Street South
2
Continue on SC 19
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Chesterfield Street South
3
Turn right onto US 1; US 78
357 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richland Avenue East
4
Turn left onto US 1
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
York Street Northeast
5
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Columbia Highway North
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
7
Merge onto I 20
35 mi
·
38 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 58
Toward US 1: Columbia Airport, West Columbia, Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Augusta Road
10
Continue on US 1
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Augusta Road
11
Take the exit
250 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn slight right onto Dreher Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Dreher Road
13
Continue on Williams Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Williams Street
14
Turn straight onto Middleton Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Middleton Street
15
Arrive at destination
Middleton Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.9 mi from Aiken, SC · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Aiken, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cayce, SC
The final approach into Cayce, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.10 one way
$16.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.86 | $17.71 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.59 | $19.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Cayce, SC
Afternoon in Cayce on Friday
Local time
1:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Gilbert, SC
26 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 5m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Aiken, SC to Cayce, SC covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, Augusta Road, Columbia Highway North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 miles from Aiken, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.10 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 8.7 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Aiken, SC and Cayce, SC, road signs point toward Columbia and Lexington.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Congaree National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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