Origin
Columbia, SC
Afternoon in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to East Gaffney, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
109.4 mi
176 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 3m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Gaffney, SC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, SC to East Gaffney, SC covers 109.4 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Charles F Bolden Freeway, Black Highway, I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.3 miles on Charles F Bolden Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.11 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.
Midpoint
54.7 miles from Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Charles F Bolden Freeway | 53.3 mi | 57m |
| Black Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| York Highway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Alexander Love Highway | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| York Road | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| East Cherokee Street | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Cherokee Avenue | 3.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Charles F Bolden Freeway
— 53.3 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and East Gaffney, 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
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Merge onto I 77
53 mi
·
57 min
·
Charles F Bolden Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 73
Toward SC 901: Rock Hill, York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
132 ft
·
3 sec
Toward SC 901 North: Rock Hill, York
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto SC 901
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Mount Holly Road
8
Continue on SC 901
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Saluda Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto SC 901; SC 5
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
South Heckle Boulevard
10
Turn left onto SC 5
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
11
Continue on SC 5
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
York Highway
12
Continue on SC 5
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Alexander Love Highway
13
Turn right onto SC 5
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Black Highway
14
Continue on SC 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kings Creek Drive
15
Continue on SC 5
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
York Road
16
Continue on SC 5
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
York Highway
17
Continue on SC 5
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
York Road
18
Turn left onto US 29
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
East Cherokee Street
19
Continue on US 29
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Cherokee Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
US 29
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.7 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53.3 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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Gaffney, 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 109.4 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Columbia, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Charles F Bolden Freeway for about 53.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.7 miles from Columbia, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 63.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
5
9.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway
Merge onto I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
62.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward SC 901: Rock Hill, York
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 73
Toward SC 901: Rock Hill, York
9
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SC 901 North: Rock Hill, York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward SC 901 North: Rock Hill, York
3
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
SC 901 / Mount Holly Road
Turn left onto SC 901 / Mount Holly Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.11 one way
$34.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $18.71 | $37.41 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.25 | $40.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.15 | $48.31 |
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: 38.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.49 | $5.25 |
| Efficient EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.57 | $4.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.32 | $7.00 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
East Gaffney, SC
Afternoon in East Gaffney on Saturday
Local time
2:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Pineville, NC
55 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
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
2h 11m 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.
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 109.4
Caution: Hazardous Conditions on Trails
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
109.4 mi in 2h 11m — 56% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Charles F Bolden Freeway.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.3 mi on Charles F Bolden Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 76 / Bull Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.4 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 0.4 miles (US 76 / Bull Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 East Gaffney, SC, road signs begin pointing toward York along the way.
York
62.8 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 109.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.3 miles on Charles F Bolden Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 76 / Bull Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles (I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield and Congaree National 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 East Gaffney, 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.
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