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Trip from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 30m

Distance

95.1 mi

153 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 24m ★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 34m
3 PM
1h 36m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in South Carolina, United States

Summerville, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC covers 95.1 miles and takes about 1h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Gervais Street, Huger Street, Taylor Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.87 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

47.5 miles from Columbia, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 30m drive with frequent turns across 95.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC is easy. At 1h 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Gervais Street
Huger Street
Taylor Street
Hampton Street
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
Augusta Road
Charleston
US 17

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Gervais Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Summerville, SC.

1

Start on Gervais Street

433 ft · 18 sec · Gervais Street
2

Continue on Gervais Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Gervais Street
3

Turn right onto Huger Street

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Huger Street
4

Turn left onto Taylor Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Taylor Street
5

Continue on Hampton Street

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Hampton Street
6

Continue on Jarvis Klapman Boulevard

2.6 mi · 3 min · Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
7

Continue on Augusta Road

0.7 mi · 52 sec · Augusta Road
8

Take the exit slight right toward Charleston

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Charleston
9

Merge slight left

87 mi · 1 hr 34 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville

0.3 mi · 35 sec · US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
11

Turn straight onto North Main Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
12

Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue

115 ft · 5 sec · East Richardson Avenue
13

Turn right

92 ft · 7 sec
14

Arrive at your destination

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 47.5 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 45m into the drive.

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 21 miles or 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 47.5 miles or 45m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Columbia, SC

This is one driving day of about 95.1 miles and 1h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Columbia, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 47.5 mi from Columbia, SC · 45m into the drive

Downtown Gaston, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gaston, SC

48 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

West Columbia, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gaston, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47.5 miles from Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Summerville, SC

The final approach into Summerville, 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

$14.87 one way

$29.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.26 $32.52
premium $4.70 $17.60 $35.20
diesel $5.61 $21.00 $41.99

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.5 0 $9.99 $4.56
Efficient EV 23.8 0 $8.32 $3.80
EV Truck/SUV 38 0 $13.31 $6.09

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Wednesday

Local time

6:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Summerville, SC

Evening in Summerville on Wednesday

Local time

6:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

2 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

1h 30m 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 Summerville, SC covers 95.1 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Gervais Street, Huger Street, Taylor Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.5 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 $14.87 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.
The drive from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC is easy. At 1h 30m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, SC to Summerville, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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