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Trip from Folly Beach, SC to Sumter, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 20m

Distance

115.1 mi

185 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 11m ★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in South Carolina, United States

Folly Beach, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Sumter, SC, SC

Sumter, SC

Junior Bastos

Trip Overview

The drive from Folly Beach, SC to Sumter, SC covers 115.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, I 95, US 521 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.00 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

57.5 miles from Folly Beach, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 115.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 20m highway drive covering 115.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.4 miles on I 26.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 26 is the longest continuous segment at about 51.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

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 115.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Ashley Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Ashley Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto East Ashley Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
11.7 mi into trip | ~22m in | I 26

Keep slight left at fork onto I 26

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
63.1 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence
6
99.7 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 51.4 mi 58m
I 95 35.4 mi 37m
US 521 15.1 mi 18m
Folly Road 6.6 mi 12m
SC 30 3 mi 4m
Septima Clark Expressway 0.6 mi 1m
Crosstown 0.5 mi 1m
Courtenay Drive 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 51.4 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Folly Beach, SC and Sumter, SC.

1

Start on East Arctic Avenue

214 ft · 11 sec · East Arctic Avenue
2

Turn left

200 ft · 19 sec
3

At end of road, turn left onto East Ashley Avenue

272 ft · 11 sec · East Ashley Avenue
4

Turn right onto SC 171

0.3 mi · 51 sec · Center Street
5

Continue on SC 171

6.6 mi · 12 min · Folly Road
6

Turn right onto SC 30

3.0 mi · 4 min · SC 30
Toward SC 30 East: Downtown
7

Turn left onto Courtenay Drive

0.4 mi · 57 sec · Courtenay Drive
8

Turn right onto US 17

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Septima P. Clark Parkway
9

Continue on US 17

0.5 mi · 1 min · Crosstown
10

Continue on US 17

0.6 mi · 1 min · Septima Clark Expressway
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 26

51 mi · 58 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence
13

Merge onto I 95

35 mi · 37 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
15

Keep slight left at fork

289 ft · 7 sec
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
16

Turn left onto US 521

15 mi · 18 min · US 521
17

Continue on South Main Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · South Main Street
18

Turn right onto US 76 Business

65 ft · 1 sec · East Liberty Street
19

Arrive at destination

US 76 Business

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 57.5 miles from Folly Beach, SC, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 25 miles or 37m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.5 miles or 1h 14m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sumter, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Folly Beach, 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 Folly Beach, SC

This is one driving day of about 115.1 miles and 2h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Folly Beach, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 51.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.5 mi from Folly Beach, SC · 1h 14m into the drive

town in South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Summerville, SC

58 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.

Popular next leg

Summerville, SC to Sumter, SC

84.4 mi · 1h 36m

Pacing Suggestions

North Charleston, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Holly Hill, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.5 miles from Folly Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Sumter, SC

The final approach into Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...

5 mi from route ~13 min detour $10 near mile 7.9
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park

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...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 111.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.00 one way

$36.00 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $19.68 $39.36
premium $4.70 $21.30 $42.61
diesel $5.61 $25.41 $50.83

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.5 0 $12.09 $5.52
Efficient EV 28.8 0 $10.07 $4.60
EV Truck/SUV 46 0 $16.11 $7.37

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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

Folly Beach, SC

Late night in Folly Beach on Saturday

Local time

5:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sumter, SC

Late night in Sumter on Saturday

Local time

5:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

87°F

Summerville, SC

58 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

26 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

2h 20m 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 Folly Beach, SC to Sumter, SC covers 115.1 miles and takes about 2h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 26, I 95, US 521. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57.5 miles from Folly Beach, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.00 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 115.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (East Ashley Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.7 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Folly Beach, SC to Sumter, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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