Origin
Denver, CO
Morning in Denver on Friday
Local time
6:14 AM
MDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Denver, CO to Columbia, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28h 56m
Distance
1596.5 mi
2,569 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$241
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
28h 30m
★
6 AM
28h 56m
8 AM
29h 48m
10 AM
29h 14m
12 PM
29h 9m
3 PM
29h 17m
5 PM
29h 46m
8 PM
28h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Denver, CO to Columbia, SC covers 1596.5 miles and takes about 28h 56m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 3-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 24, I 40 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 605.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $240.54 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
8 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
798.2 miles from Denver, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13h 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 1596.5 miles and 28h 56m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 24.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 55 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 605.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
At 28h 56m, 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. The trickiest moment comes around 599.6 miles in near I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 1596.5 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?
The main spots that need attention: at 599.6 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 841.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1151.9 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
599.6 mi into trip
|
~10h 12m in
|
I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway toward I 670 East, I 70 Alternate
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 421B
Toward I 670 East, I 70 Alternate
8
841.6 mi into trip
|
~14h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
9
1151.9 mi into trip
|
~20h 30m in
|
I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 44A
Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
9
1157 mi into trip
|
~20h 37m in
|
I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
8
1591.5 mi into trip
|
~28h 48m in
|
I 126; US 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76 toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Denver, CO and Columbia, SC, road signs point toward Kansas City, Illinois, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Spartanburg.
Kansas City
544.2 mi in
|
~9h 15m
|
via I 70
Illinois
850.1 mi in
|
~15h 2m
|
via I 70
Knoxville
1154.2 mi in
|
~20h 33m
|
via I 24
Chattanooga
1157 mi in
|
~20h 37m
|
via I 24
Spartanburg
1443.8 mi in
|
~26h 2m
|
via US 74; US 64 Truck
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 605.1 mi | 10h 31m |
| I 24 | 260.8 mi | 4h 42m |
| I 40 | 206.2 mi | 3h 58m |
| Andrew Jackson Highway | 124.9 mi | 2h 17m |
| Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway | 95.9 mi | 1h 39m |
| I 64 | 74.7 mi | 1h 22m |
| Kansas Turnpike | 54.7 mi | 56m |
| U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway | 54.4 mi | 58m |
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 605.1 mi, about 10h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, CO and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on this road
379 ft
·
29 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
62 ft
·
11 sec
3
Turn left onto I 70 Business; US 40; US 287
362 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Colfax Avenue
4
Turn right onto North Lincoln Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Lincoln Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on 20th Street
500 ft
·
18 sec
·
20th Street
6
Turn right onto North Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Broadway
7
Turn left onto Park Avenue West
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Avenue West
Toward I 25
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
458 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 25 North, I 70: Fort Collins, Limon, Grand Junction
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 70: Limon, Grand Junction
10
Continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Toward I 70
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
12
Merge onto I 70
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on I 70
438 mi
·
7 hr 18 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 70; US 40
75 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
17
Continue on I 70; US 40
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
0.8 mi
·
52 sec
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
Toward I-70 East, Kansas City
19
Continue on I 70
55 mi
·
56 min
·
Kansas Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 670; I 70 Alt
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Jay B. Dillingham Freeway
Exit 421B
Toward I 670 East, I 70 Alternate
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Merge onto I 70; US 24; US 40
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
George Brett Super Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 70
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
23
Continue on I 70
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Clifton J. Scott Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 70
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Truman/Eisenhower Presidential Highway
25
Continue on I 70
53 mi
·
56 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
26
Continue on I 70; US 40
32 mi
·
34 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
22 mi
·
24 min
·
U.S. Submarine Veterans' Memorial Highway
28
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
29
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway Patrol Sgt. Benjamin Booth Memorial Highway
30
Continue on I 70; US 40
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheriff Roger I. Wilson Memorial Highway
31
Continue on I 70; US 40
111 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 241A
Toward Bermuda Road
Use the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
Toward I 70 East: Saint Louis
Use the slight left lane.
34
Merge onto I 70
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
I 70
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 70
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Andy Gammon Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Andy Gammon Memorial Highway
Toward Illinois
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 70
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge
38
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 3
Toward I 64 East: Louisville
Use the slight right lane.
39
Merge onto I 64; IL 3
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 64; IL 3
Use the straight / right lanes.
40
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
41
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 24 East: Nashville
42
Continue on I 24
175 mi
·
3 hr 8 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Exit 44A
Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
44
Continue on I 24
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Exit 86
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
81 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
I 24
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left lane.
46
Continue on I 40
93 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / right lanes.
47
Keep slight left at fork onto I 40
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 40
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight right at fork onto I 40
76 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 40
Toward I 40 East: Asheville
49
Take the exit onto US 74; US 64 Truck
23 mi
·
27 min
·
US 74; US 64 Truck
Toward I 26 East, US 74 East, US 64 Truck East: Hendersonville, Spartanburg
50
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26; US 74
125 mi
·
2 hr 17 min
·
Andrew Jackson Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 126; US 76
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Huger Street
Use the slight right lane.
53
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Huger Street
54
Turn left onto Gervais Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
55
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
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 8 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 798.2 miles from Denver, CO, or about 13h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 605.1 miles.
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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 798.2 miles or 13h 59m 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 532.2 miles or 9h 1m
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 27h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Denver, CO 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 Denver, CO
Aim for roughly 532 miles and 9.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 532 miles and 9.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Columbia, SC
Aim for roughly 532 miles and 9.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Denver, CO.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 8 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 605.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 798.2 mi from Denver, CO · 13h 59m into the drive
Early stop town
Coffee and fuel
399 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
798 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, IL
Late stop town
Final reset
1197 mi into the route
Best for: Food, fuel, and one last short break
This is a smart final reset before the arrival run into Columbia, SC.
Overnight Options
Night 1
532 mi · about 9.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Kansas City, MO after about 532 miles or 9.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
1064 mi · about 19.3h in
A practical overnight split lands near Clarksville, TN after about 1064 miles or 19.3 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 798.2 miles from Denver, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 605.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 532 miles or 9.6 hours on the road.
Arriving in Columbia, SC
The final approach into Columbia, SC 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 Columbia, SC.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Columbia, SC with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$240.54 one way
$481.09 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
559 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $254.69 | $509.37 |
| premium | $4.39 | $276.18 | $552.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $352.49 | $704.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.74
Kansas Turnpike
(54.7 mi)
$2.74
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$241
Tolls
$3
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$478–$673
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 558.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $168 in charging · 5 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 479 | 5 | $167.63 | $76.63 |
| Efficient EV | 399.1 | 4 | $139.69 | $63.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 638.6 | 7 | $223.51 | $102.18 |
Gas CO2
559 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
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Friday
Local time
8:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Valley Falls, KS
399 mi in
74°F
Nashville, IL
798 mi in
76°F
Johnson, TN
1197 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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 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
28h 56m 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 Denver, CO to Columbia, SC covers 1596.5 miles and takes about 28h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, I 24, I 40. 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 532 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 798.2 miles from Denver, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $240.54 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 8 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 32 significant decision points across 1596.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 599.6 miles (I 670; I 70 Alt / Jay B. Dillingham Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 841.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 1151.9 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Denver, CO and Columbia, SC, road signs point toward Kansas City, Illinois, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Spartanburg.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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