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Trip from Arcadia, SC to Sumter, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 47m

Distance

138.1 mi

222 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 37m ★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 53m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Arcadia, SC, SC

Arcadia, SC

Junior Bastos

Downtown Sumter, SC, SC

Sumter, SC

Junior Bastos

Trip Overview

The drive from Arcadia, SC to Sumter, SC covers 138.1 miles and takes about 2h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, Garners Ferry Road, I 126 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.8 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.60 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

69.1 miles from Arcadia, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 138.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 47m highway drive covering 138.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and Garners Ferry Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 86.8 miles on I 26.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 26 is the longest continuous segment at about 86.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Garners Ferry Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near SC 295 / West Blackstock Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (SC 295 / West Blackstock Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | SC 295 / West Blackstock Road

Turn left onto SC 295 / West Blackstock Road

Navigation decision point

5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
89.1 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | I 126; US 76

Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76 toward I 126, US 76: Columbia

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
6
92.5 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the exit toward Huger Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Huger Street
6
134.4 mi into trip | ~2h 41m in | US 76 Business / Broad Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business / Broad Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 86.8 mi 1h 34m
Garners Ferry Road 36.2 mi 45m
I 126 3.4 mi 4m
Broad Street 3.2 mi 5m
Gervais Street 1.9 mi 4m
West Blackstock Road 1.5 mi 2m
Millwood Avenue 1.4 mi 2m
Devine Street 1.3 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 86.8 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arcadia, SC and Sumter, SC.

1

Start on Hayne Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Hayne Street
2

Turn left onto SC 295

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Blackstock Road
3

Turn right onto US 29

0.4 mi · 38 sec · W O Ezell Boulevard
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 26 East: Columbia
5

Merge onto I 26

87 mi · 1 hr 34 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76

3.4 mi · 4 min · I 126; US 76
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Huger Street Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321

0.7 mi · 1 min · Huger Street
9

Turn left onto Gervais Street

1.9 mi · 4 min · Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
10

Turn right onto US 76; US 378

1.4 mi · 2 min · Millwood Avenue
11

Continue on US 76; US 378

1.3 mi · 2 min · Devine Street
12

Continue on US 76; US 378

36 mi · 45 min · Garners Ferry Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business

3.2 mi · 5 min · Broad Street
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on US 76 Business

0.4 mi · 49 sec · North Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn left onto US 76 Business

0.2 mi · 20 sec · West Liberty Street
16

Arrive at destination

US 76 Business

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.1 miles from Arcadia, SC, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 30 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 69.1 miles or 1h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sumter, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Arcadia, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Arcadia, SC

This is one driving day of about 138.1 miles and 2h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Arcadia, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 86.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 69.1 mi from Arcadia, SC · 1h 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbia, SC

69 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

Fountain Inn, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Newberry, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 69.1 miles from Arcadia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 86.8 miles.

Arriving in Sumter, SC

The final approach into Sumter, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Sumter, SC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.60 one way

$43.19 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $23.61 $47.23
premium $4.70 $25.56 $51.12
diesel $5.61 $30.49 $60.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.4 0 $14.50 $6.63
Efficient EV 34.5 0 $12.08 $5.52
EV Truck/SUV 55.2 0 $19.33 $8.84

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Arcadia, SC

Late night in Arcadia on Friday

Local time

5:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sumter, SC

Late night in Sumter on Friday

Local time

5:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

36 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

2h 47m 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 Arcadia, SC to Sumter, SC covers 138.1 miles and takes about 2h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 26, Garners Ferry Road, I 126. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 69.1 miles from Arcadia, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.60 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (SC 295 / West Blackstock Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 89.1 miles (I 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Arcadia, SC to Sumter, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Sumter, SC to Arcadia, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

137.7 mi 2h 47m

Explore more options from Arcadia, SC or browse trips ending in Sumter, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.