Origin
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Monday
Local time
11:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Denver, CO
Drive Time
23h 11m
Distance
1599.4 mi
2,574 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$256
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
22h 51m
★
6 AM
23h 12m
8 AM
23h 54m
10 AM
23h 26m
12 PM
23h 22m
3 PM
23h 28m
5 PM
23h 51m
8 PM
22h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
MINEIA MARTINS
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, SC to Denver, CO covers 1599.4 miles and takes about 23h 11m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 3-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Gervais Street, Assembly Street, Elmwood Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $255.97 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
6 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
799.7 miles from Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11h 35m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 1599.4 miles and 23h 11m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Gervais Street and Assembly Street.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Gervais Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 23h 11m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 0 significant decision points across 1599.4 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?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, SC to Denver, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gervais Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Assembly Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Elmwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Spartanburg | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 40 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nashville | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 24 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown Loop | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Gervais Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Denver, CO.
1
Start on Gervais Street
433 ft
·
18 sec
·
Gervais Street
2
Continue on Gervais Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Gervais Street
3
Turn right onto Assembly Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Assembly Street
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Elmwood Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Elmwood Avenue
5
Continue straight
3.8 mi
·
4 min
6
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on Spartanburg
91 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Spartanburg
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
130 mi
·
2 hr 35 min
·
I 40 West, US 74: Canton, Knoxville
9
Keep slight right to continue on Nashville
155 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
Nashville
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24 West, I 40 West: Nashville
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 24 West: Clarksville, Louisville
12
Merge slight left onto Downtown Loop
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Downtown Loop
13
Continue on I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24 West, I 65 North: Clarksville, Louisville
14
Take the exit slight left toward I 24 West: Clarksville
113 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
·
I 24 West: Clarksville
15
Keep slight right
63 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
16
Keep slight left to continue on I 57 North: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 57 North: Chicago
17
Merge slight left onto Ken Gray Expressway
52 mi
·
55 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 64 West: Saint Louis
71 mi
·
1 hr 17 min
·
I 64 West: Saint Louis
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 70 West, IL 3 North: Kansas City
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70 West, IL 3 North: Kansas City
20
Merge slight right
235 mi
·
4 hr 30 min
21
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
22
Continue on Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
23
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
24
Continue on George Brett Super Highway
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
25
Keep slight left to continue on I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I 670 West, I 70 Alternate, I 35 South: Topeka, Wichita
26
Merge slight left
54 mi
·
55 min
27
Keep slight right to continue on Kansas Turnpike
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
28
Continue on Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
92 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
29
Continue on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
438 mi
·
7 hr 18 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
30
Continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
31
Keep slight right to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
32
Keep slight left to continue on Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
33
Take the exit slight right toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
34
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
35
Keep slight right to continue on 38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
38th Avenue, Park Avenue, Downtown
36
Keep slight right to continue on Park Avenue, Downtown
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Park Avenue, Downtown
37
Continue on Park Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue
38
Turn straight onto Park Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Avenue West
39
Continue on West 22nd Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 22nd Street
40
Turn right onto North Broadway
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway
41
Turn left onto East 14th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
East 14th Avenue
42
Turn left
358 ft
·
28 sec
43
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 6 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 799.7 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 11h 35m into the drive.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 3h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 799.7 miles or 11h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 533.1 miles or 7h 43m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, CO 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, SC
Aim for roughly 533 miles and 7.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 533 miles and 7.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Denver, CO
Aim for roughly 533 miles and 7.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Columbia, SC.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 6 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 799.7 mi from Columbia, SC · 11h 35m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
400 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
800 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Nashville, ILLate stop town
Final reset
1200 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Denver, CO.
Overnight Options
Night 1
533 mi · about 7.7h in
A practical overnight split lands near Clarksville, TN after about 533 miles or 7.7 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
1066 mi · about 15.5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kansas City, MO after about 1066 miles or 15.5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 799.7 miles from Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 533 miles or 7.7 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
Arriving in Denver, CO
The final approach into Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Denver, CO with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$255.97 one way
$511.93 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
560 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $278.89 | $557.78 |
| premium | $4.78 | $300.86 | $601.73 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $355.33 | $710.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$256
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$491–$686
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 559.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $168 in charging · 5 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 479.8 | 5 | $167.94 | $76.77 |
| Efficient EV | 399.9 | 4 | $139.95 | $63.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 639.8 | 7 | $223.92 | $102.36 |
Gas CO2
560 kg
EV CO2
187 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 5 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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
Denver, CO
Morning in Denver on Monday
Local time
9:27 AM
MDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
61°F
Johnson, TN
400 mi in
59°F
Nashville, IL
800 mi in
44°F
Valley Falls, KS
1200 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
2 hours earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
3 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
23h 11m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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 Denver, CO covers 1599.4 miles and takes about 23h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Gervais Street, Assembly Street, Elmwood Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 533 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 799.7 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 $255.97 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 6 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 0 significant decision points across 1599.4 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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, SC to Denver, CO is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, SC to Denver, CO does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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