The drive from Awendaw, SC to Columbia, SC covers 137.3 miles and takes about 2h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, US 17, Mark Clark Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.2 miles on I 26.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.47 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
68.6 miles from Awendaw, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
99.2 mi
1h 47m
US 17
18.8 mi
25m
Mark Clark Expressway
9.2 mi
11m
Long Point Road
2.8 mi
5m
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
2.7 mi
3m
Rivers Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
Gervais Street
0.6 mi
1m
Augusta Road
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 99.2 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Awendaw, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on US 17
0.2 mi·18 sec·US 17
2
Continue on US 17
19 mi·25 min·US 17
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Long Point Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Long Point Road
4
Enter roundabout onto State Road S-10-97
156 ft·3 sec·Long Point Road
5
Continue on State Road S-10-97
1.6 mi·3 min·Long Point Road
6
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 526 West: North Charleston
7
Merge onto I 526
9.2 mi·11 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 18BToward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78
1.1 mi·1 min·Rivers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn straight
0.1 mi·20 sec
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward I 26 North: Columbia
12
Merge onto I 26
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 111BToward US 1 North: West ColumbiaUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto US 1
0.6 mi·42 sec·Augusta Road
15
Turn straight onto SC 12
2.7 mi·3 min·Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
16
Continue on SC 12
0.3 mi·24 sec·Hampton Street
17
Turn right onto Williams Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Williams Street
18
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321
0.2 mi·22 sec·Huger Street
19
Turn left onto Gervais Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
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 68.6 miles from Awendaw, SC, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.2 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 25m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Awendaw, 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 Awendaw, SC
This is one driving day of about 137.3 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Awendaw, 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 99.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 132.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20 mi into trip|~28m in|State Road S-10-97 / Long Point Road
Enter roundabout onto State Road S-10-97 / Long Point Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
22.1 mi into trip|~32m in|I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge onto I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
31.4 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18B
Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
5
33.3 mi into trip|~47m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
132.6 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 1 North: West Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 111B
Toward US 1 North: West Columbia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.47 one way
$42.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.48
$46.95
premium
$4.70
$25.41
$50.82
diesel
$5.61
$30.31
$60.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.2
0
$14.42
$6.59
Efficient EV
34.3
0
$12.01
$5.49
EV Truck/SUV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.79
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 15, 2026
Origin
Awendaw, SC
Afternoon
in Awendaw on Saturday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, SC
Afternoon
in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
5 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 42m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 113.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 137.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and US 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.2 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 20 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 99.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and US 17. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in near State Road S-10-97 / Long Point Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 137.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 20 miles (State Road S-10-97 / Long Point Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.1 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 137.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Awendaw, SC to Columbia, SC covers 137.3 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, US 17, Mark Clark Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.6 miles from Awendaw, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.47 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 137.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 20 miles (State Road S-10-97 / Long Point Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 22.1 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Awendaw, SC to Columbia, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
