Origin
Charleston, SC
Afternoon in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
4:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, SC to Sumter, SC
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
105.8 mi
170 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 55m
★
6 AM
2h 3m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 10m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sumter, SC
Just a Couple Photos
Trip Overview
Traveling from Charleston to Sumter covers 105.8 miles, making it an efficient journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 3 minutes. Since this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should expect to spend roughly $17 on fuel for the one-way trek. By utilizing I-26, I-95, and US-521, you stay within the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. This route is ideal if you are looking for a practical, no-nonsense connection between these two South Carolina cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
52.9 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
Drive Character
With 97% of your travel occurring on highways, you will spend most of your time maintaining consistent speeds. The journey features a significant 51.4-mile stretch on I-26, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. Expect a highly efficient driving experience that prioritizes speed over local roads. As you transition between the interstate system and US-521, the road maintains a predictable, high-speed character. It is a functional, highway-heavy commute that minimizes the stop-and-go patterns often found on secondary routes.
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 51.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / none lanes.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Coming Street
Turn right onto Coming Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
6
90.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 51.4 mi | 58m |
| I 95 | 35.4 mi | 37m |
| US 521 | 15.1 mi | 18m |
| Meeting Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Septima Clark Expressway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| King Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Coming Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 51.4 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Sumter, SC.
1
Start on Broad Street
40 ft
·
5 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Turn right onto S-10-107
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the straight / none lanes.
3
Turn left onto Calhoun Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Calhoun Street
4
Turn right onto S-10-104
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
King Street
5
Turn left onto Spring Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Spring Street
6
Turn right onto Coming Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Coming Street
7
Turn right onto US 17
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Septima Clark Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26
51 mi
·
58 min
·
I 26
Use the none lane.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
10
Merge onto I 95
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 95
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
12
Keep slight left at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
13
Turn left onto US 521
15 mi
·
18 min
·
US 521
Use the none lane.
14
Continue on South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Main Street
15
Turn right onto US 76 Business
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Liberty Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 76 Business
Trip Plan
Because this drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid potential congestion on the main interstates. You won't need to plan for formal stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the I-95 corridor is a smart move. Given that there are no required stops on this 105.8-mile stretch, consider filling your tank in Charleston to lock in your $17 fuel budget early. If you find yourself driving during peak hours, be prepared for increased traffic flow when merging onto I-95. The lack of required stops makes it easy to complete the trip in one efficient push.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.9 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.9 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
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 Charleston, 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 Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 105.8 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 51.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.9 mi from Charleston, SC · 1h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.9 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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
$16.93 one way
$33.86 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $18.45 | $36.90 |
| premium | $4.78 | $19.90 | $39.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $23.51 | $47.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.11 | $5.08 |
| Efficient EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.26 | $4.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.81 | $6.77 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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
Sumter, SC
Afternoon in Sumter on Sunday
Local time
4:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
4 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 3m 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 Charleston, SC to Sumter, SC covers 105.8 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 95, US 521. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.9 miles from Charleston, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.93 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.8 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Charleston, SC to Sumter, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sumter, SC
More trips to Sumter, SC
Explore more options from Charleston, SC or browse trips ending in Sumter, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Charleston, SC or Sumter, SC on MapSof.net.