The drive from Columbia, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 137.5 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, I 95, Trask Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.8 miles on I 26.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.44 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
68.7 miles from Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 40m. Total distance: 137.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 137.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.8 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 23 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 56.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near I 26.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 137.5 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: at 5.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.2 mi into trip|~8m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
62 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169A
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
62.8 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
6
109.9 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbia, SC to Beaufort, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Yemassee along the way.
Yemassee
109.7 mi in|~2h 1m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
56.8 mi
1h 1m
I 95
46.9 mi
50m
Trask Parkway
18.1 mi
22m
US 17 Alt
3.9 mi
5m
Boundary Street
3 mi
4m
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
2.6 mi
3m
Yemassee Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Gervais Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 56.8 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Beaufort, SC.
1
Start on Gervais Street
434 ft·17 sec·Gervais Street
2
Continue on US 1; US 378
0.7 mi·1 min·Gervais Street
3
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321
0.4 mi·47 sec·Huger Street
4
Turn left onto SC 12
0.2 mi·22 sec·Taylor Street
5
Continue on SC 12
0.3 mi·25 sec·Hampton Street
6
Continue on SC 12
2.6 mi·3 min·Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi·52 sec·Augusta Road
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Charleston
9
Merge onto I 26
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 169AToward I 95 South: Savannah
11
Merge onto I 95
47 mi·50 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
14
Turn straight onto SC 68
1.4 mi·2 min·Yemassee Highway
15
Turn slight right onto SC 68
0.2 mi·25 sec·Connelly Street
16
Turn right onto US 17 Alt; US 21
3.9 mi·5 min·US 17 Alt; US 21
17
Merge onto US 17; US 21
6.2 mi·7 min·Trask Parkway
18
Take the exit onto US 21
0.3 mi·44 sec·US 21
19
Merge onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
20
Continue on US 21
3.0 mi·4 min·Boundary Street
21
Continue on US 21 Business
0.5 mi·54 sec·Carteret Street
22
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
39 ft·1 sec·Port Republic Street
23
Arrive at destination
Port Republic 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 68.7 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.8 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 miles or 1h 18m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC
This is one driving day of about 137.5 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Columbia, 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 56.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.7 mi from Columbia, SC
· 1h 18m into the drive
The midpoint is around 68.7 miles from Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Beaufort, SC
The final approach into Beaufort, 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 Beaufort, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 137.5
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 28.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.44 one way
$42.88 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$23.98
$47.95
premium
$4.78
$25.87
$51.73
diesel
$5.62
$30.44
$60.89
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: 48.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.44
$6.60
Efficient EV
34.4
0
$12.03
$5.50
EV Truck/SUV
55
0
$19.25
$8.80
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
Columbia, SC
Evening
in Columbia on Friday
Local time
5:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beaufort, SC
Evening
in Beaufort on Friday
Local time
5:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Holly Hill, SC
69 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 40m 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 Columbia, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 137.5 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 95, Trask Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.7 miles from Columbia, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.44 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 is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 137.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Columbia, SC to Beaufort, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Yemassee along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
