Origin
Bluffton, SC
Afternoon in Bluffton on Saturday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bluffton, SC to Columbia, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 51m
Distance
148.6 mi
239 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 40m
★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 57m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
The drive from Bluffton, SC to Columbia, SC covers 148.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, I 26, Coosaw Scenic Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.2 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.24 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
74.3 miles from Bluffton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 57.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 26 | 57.1 mi | 1h 1m |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Fording Island Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Okatie Highway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Jarvis Klapman Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Bluffton Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 57.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on Bruin Road
87 ft
·
5 sec
·
Bruin Road
2
Turn right onto SC 46
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bluffton Road
3
Enter roundabout onto SC 46
170 ft
·
3 sec
·
Bluffton Road
4
Continue on SC 46
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bluffton Road
5
Turn left onto US 278
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Fording Island Road
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft
·
4 sec
8
Merge onto SC 170
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
9
Take the exit
488 ft
·
13 sec
10
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
11
Continue on SC 462
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
13
Merge onto I 95; US 17
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 95; US 17
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
15
Merge onto I 26
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 111B
Toward US 1 North: West Columbia
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 1
0.6 mi
·
42 sec
·
Augusta Road
18
Turn straight onto SC 12
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
19
Continue on SC 12
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Hampton Street
20
Turn right onto Williams Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Williams Street
21
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Huger Street
22
Turn left onto Gervais Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
23
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 74.3 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.2 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 28m 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 20m
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 Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC
This is one driving day of about 148.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Bluffton, 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 95 for about 57.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.3 miles from Bluffton, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 147.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Turn right onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
86.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
143.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m 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
5
147.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.24 one way
$46.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $25.41 | $50.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $27.50 | $55.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.81 | $65.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.6 | 0 | $15.60 | $7.13 |
| Efficient EV | 37.2 | 0 | $13.00 | $5.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.80 | $9.51 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Columbia, SC
Afternoon in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
1:19 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
7 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 51m 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.
Congaree National Park
National Park
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 123
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 20.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
148.6 mi in 2h 51m, mostly highway — 57.2 mi of that is on I 95.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 46 / Bluffton Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 148.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 86.7 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 148.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbia, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 86.7 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, SC before heading back.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Columbia, SC
More trips to Columbia, SC
Explore more options from Bluffton, SC or browse trips ending in Columbia, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.