Origin
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Friday
Local time
9:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Camden, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Camden, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, SC to Camden, SC covers 34.6 miles and takes about 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway, Bull Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.2 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 43m highway drive covering 34.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.2 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 76 / Bull Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 43m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 76 / Bull Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 76 / Bull Street
Turn left onto US 76 / Bull Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
7.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
31.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward US 521: Sumter, Camden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 98
Toward US 521: Sumter, Camden
5
32.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Turn slight left toward US 521 North: Camden, Revolutionary War Park, Steeplechase Industrial Park
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward US 521 North: Camden, Revolutionary War...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbia, SC and Camden, SC, road signs point toward Revolutionary War Park and Steeplechase Industrial Park.
Revolutionary War Park
32.2 mi in
|
~39m
Steeplechase Industrial Park
32.2 mi in
|
~39m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 24.2 mi | 27m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Bull Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Sumter Highway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Gervais Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 24.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Camden, SC.
1
Start on Gervais Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Gervais Street
2
Turn left onto US 76
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bull Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on SC 277
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
4
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 20
24 mi
·
27 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 98
Toward US 521: Sumter, Camden
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn slight left
120 ft
·
3 sec
Toward US 521 North: Camden, Revolutionary War Park, Steeplechase Industrial Park
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 521
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Sumter Highway
9
Continue on US 521
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Broad Street
10
Arrive at destination
US 521; US 601
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.41 one way
$10.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.40 | $12.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Camden, SC
Morning in Camden on Friday
Local time
9:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
43m 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 Camden, SC covers 34.6 miles and takes about 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway, Bull Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.3 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 $5.41 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 is a straightforward 43m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 76 / Bull Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Columbia, SC and Camden, SC, road signs point toward Revolutionary War Park and Steeplechase Industrial 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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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