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Trip from Great Falls, SC to Sumter, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

62.8 mi

101 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

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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Downtown Great Falls, SC, SC

Great Falls, SC

Wilson Rodriguez

Downtown Sumter, SC, SC

Sumter, SC

Junior Bastos

Trip Overview

The drive from Great Falls, SC to Sumter, SC covers 62.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on John G Richards Road, Cedar Creek Road, Sumter Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.5 miles on John G Richards Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.82 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

31.4 miles from Great Falls, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 62.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John G Richards Road is the longest continuous segment at about 18.5 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 21; SC 200 / Pendergrass Boulevard.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Great Falls, SC to Sumter, SC is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (US 21; SC 200 / Pendergrass Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles (US 521; US 601 / North Broad Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 59.3 miles (US 521; US 76 Business / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

4 of 4 key points

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

3
0.6 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 21; SC 200 / Pendergrass Boulevard

Turn right onto US 21; SC 200 / Pendergrass Boulevard

Navigation decision point

3
32.1 mi into trip | ~55m in | US 521; US 601 / North Broad Street

Merge onto US 521; US 601 / North Broad Street

Merge point - match speed before joining

3
59.3 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | US 521; US 76 Business / Broad Street

Turn slight left onto US 521; US 76 Business / Broad Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
4
62.6 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in | US 76 Business / West Liberty Street

Turn left onto US 76 Business / West Liberty Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
John G Richards Road 18.5 mi 32m
Cedar Creek Road 10 mi 17m
Sumter Highway 8.4 mi 9m
Camden Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Thomas Sumter Highway 7.6 mi 8m
North Broad Street 3.1 mi 7m
Broad Street 2.9 mi 4m
Liberty Hill Road 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: John G Richards Road — 18.5 mi, about 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great Falls, SC and Sumter, SC.

1

Start on US 21; SC 200

0.6 mi · 57 sec · Chester Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 21; SC 200

1.4 mi · 2 min · Pendergrass Boulevard
3

Turn straight onto SC 97; SC 200

526 ft · 10 sec · State Highway 97
4

Continue on SC 97; SC 200

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Cedar Creek Road
5

Continue on SC 97

9.6 mi · 16 min · Cedar Creek Road
6

Continue on SC 97

18 mi · 32 min · John G Richards Road
7

Continue on SC 97

1.5 mi · 2 min · Liberty Hill Road
8

Merge onto US 521; US 601

3.1 mi · 7 min · North Broad Street
9

Continue on US 521

8.4 mi · 9 min · Sumter Highway
10

Continue on US 521

6.2 mi · 7 min · Camden Highway
11

Continue on US 521

7.6 mi · 8 min · Thomas Sumter Highway
12

Continue on US 521

1.9 mi · 2 min · Camden Highway
13

Turn slight left onto US 521; US 76 Business

2.9 mi · 4 min · Broad Street
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on US 76 Business

0.4 mi · 49 sec · North Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn left onto US 76 Business

0.2 mi · 20 sec · West Liberty Street
16

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 31.4 miles from Great Falls, SC, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 14 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.4 miles or 54m 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 23m

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 Great Falls, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Great Falls, SC

This is one driving day of about 62.8 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Great Falls, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on John G Richards Road for about 18.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.4 mi from Great Falls, SC · 54m into the drive

city in South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Camden, SC

31 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

Heath Springs, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Camden, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Great Falls, 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.

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.

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...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour Free near mile 51.9
Caution: Burn Ban in Effect 4/17
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.82 one way

$19.64 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.74 $21.48
premium $4.70 $11.62 $23.25
diesel $5.61 $13.87 $27.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.8 0 $6.59 $3.01
Efficient EV 15.7 0 $5.49 $2.51
EV Truck/SUV 25.1 0 $8.79 $4.02

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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 17, 2026

Origin

Great Falls, SC

Morning in Great Falls on Friday

Local time

9:58 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sumter, SC

Morning in Sumter on Friday

Local time

9:58 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Mostly Clear

SW 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

49°F

Camden, SC

31 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

13 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 36m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Great Falls, SC to Sumter, SC covers 62.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are John G Richards Road, Cedar Creek Road, Sumter Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.4 miles from Great Falls, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.82 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 Great Falls, SC to Sumter, SC is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (US 21; SC 200 / Pendergrass Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles (US 521; US 601 / North Broad Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 59.3 miles (US 521; US 76 Business / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Congaree National Park.

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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