Origin
Florence, SC
Evening in Florence on Sunday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Florence, SC to Columbia, SC
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
83.1 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, SC
Samual lim
Trip Overview
The drive from Florence, SC to Columbia, SC covers 83.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Cheves Street, Warley Street, West Evans Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.30 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
41.5 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 83.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Cheves 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 Florence, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 1h 17m 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 Florence, SC to Columbia, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Cheves Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Warley Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Evans Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West David H McLeod Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| J Strom Thurmond Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| SC 277 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bull Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East Cheves Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on the route
49 ft
·
9 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left
131 ft
·
15 sec
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto East Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cheves Street
4
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Warley Street
5
Turn left onto West Evans Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
6
Turn right onto West David H McLeod Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West David H McLeod Boulevard
7
Continue on J Strom Thurmond Freeway
69 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
9
Merge slight left onto I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
10
Continue on Bull Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bull Street
11
Turn right onto Gervais Street
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Gervais Street
12
Continue on Gervais Street
233 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
13
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 41.5 miles from Florence, SC, or about 38m 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 80 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.5 miles or 38m 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 6m
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 Florence, 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 Florence, SC
This is one driving day of about 83.1 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Florence, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.5 mi from Florence, SC · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.5 miles from Florence, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.30 one way
$26.60 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $14.49 | $28.98 |
| premium | $4.78 | $15.63 | $31.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $18.46 | $36.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.73 | $3.99 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.2 | 0 | $11.63 | $5.32 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Columbia, SC
Evening in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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 17m 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 Florence, SC to Columbia, SC covers 83.1 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Cheves Street, Warley Street, West Evans Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.5 miles from Florence, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.30 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 Florence, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 1h 17m 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 Florence, SC to Columbia, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Florence, SC to Columbia, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Columbia, SC
More trips to Columbia, SC
Explore more options from Florence, SC or browse trips ending in Columbia, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Florence, SC or Columbia, SC on MapSof.net.