Origin
Columbia, SC
Evening in Columbia on Thursday
Local time
6:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Elgin, SC
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
66.9 mi
108 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elgin, SC
Just a Couple Photos
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, SC to Elgin, SC covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, Kershaw Highway, Kershaw Camden Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.5 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 66.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Columbia, SC to Elgin, SC covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 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 18.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 66.9 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 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 9 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
26.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 601: Lugoff, Camden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 92
Toward US 601: Lugoff, Camden
10
26.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 601 North: Lugoff, Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Exit 92
Toward US 601 North: Lugoff, Camden
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 Elgin, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Camden along the way.
Camden
26.1 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| Kershaw Highway | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Kershaw Camden Highway | 13 mi | 14m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Highway 601 South | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Springdale Drive | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Boykin Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 18.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Elgin, 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
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 92
Toward US 601: Lugoff, Camden
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
479 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 92
Toward US 601 North: Lugoff, Camden
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto US 601
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 601 South
9
Turn straight onto US 1; US 601
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
10
Continue on US 1; US 601; SC 34
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West DeKalb Street
11
Turn left onto US 521 Truck; US 601 Truck
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Springdale Drive
12
Continue on US 521 Truck; US 601 Truck
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Boykin Road
13
Turn left onto US 521; US 601
272 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Broad Street
14
Continue on US 521; US 601
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Kershaw Highway
15
Continue on US 521; US 601
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
16
Continue on US 521; US 601
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Hampton Street
17
Turn left onto US 521; US 601
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Matson Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 521 Business
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
19
Continue on US 521
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
Spring Street
20
Turn right onto US 521
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
21
Continue on US 521; SC 522
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
22
Arrive at destination
US 521
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.5 mi from Columbia, SC · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elgin, SC
The final approach into Elgin, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.46 one way
$20.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.38 | $24.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.77 | $29.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.02 | $3.21 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.37 | $4.28 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Elgin, SC
Evening in Elgin on Thursday
Local time
6:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Camden, SC
33 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 23m 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 Elgin, SC covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, Kershaw Highway, Kershaw Camden Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.5 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 $10.46 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 66.9 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.
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.
On the drive from Columbia, SC to Elgin, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Camden along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Congaree National Park.
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