Origin
Lakewood, SC
Late night in Lakewood on Saturday
Local time
2:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakewood, SC to Columbia, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 8m
Distance
48.9 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 3m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 12m
12 PM
1h 11m
3 PM
1h 13m
5 PM
1h 19m
8 PM
1h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, SC
Jacob Evans
Trip Overview
Lakewood, SC to Columbia, SC is 48.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 8 minutes via US 76, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within the Southeast region, connecting two points in South Carolina. Given its short distance and focused highway profile, it’s an efficient journey for those needing to get from one place to the other without significant detours. Plan for a drive that will have you arriving with plenty of time to spare, making it ideal for a quick transition or an errand-driven trip.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 8m. Total distance: 48.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 70% of the route utilizing major roads like US 76. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the trip, including a significant uninterrupted stretch of 34.2 miles on US 76. Expect straightforward travel with minimal complexity, as the route is designed for efficient transit. While the profile is highway-centric, local road segments like South Guignard Drive and Broad Street will transition you into your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 76 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 76 and South Guignard Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Old Manning Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Old Manning Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 15 / Summerton Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (US 15 / Pocalla Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Old Manning Road
Turn left onto Old Manning Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 15 / Summerton Highway
Turn right onto US 15 / Summerton Highway
Navigation decision point
3
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 15 / Pocalla Road
Turn slight right onto US 15 / Pocalla Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 521 / South Guignard Parkway
Turn left onto US 521 / South Guignard Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
US 521; US 76 Business / Broad Street
Turn left onto US 521; US 76 Business / Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 76 | 34.2 mi | 42m |
| South Guignard Drive | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Broad Street | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Old Manning Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Gervais Street | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Millwood Avenue | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Summerton Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Devine Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 76
— 34.2 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakewood, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on Spoonville Lane
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Spoonville Lane
2
Turn left onto Old Manning Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Manning Road
3
Turn right onto US 15
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Summerton Highway
4
Turn slight right onto US 15
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Pocalla Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto US 521
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
South Guignard Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Guignard Drive
7
Continue on US 521
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bultman Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 521; US 76 Business
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Broad Street
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 76; US 378
34 mi
·
42 min
·
US 76; US 378
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 76; US 378
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Devine Street
11
Turn slight right onto US 76; US 378
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Millwood Avenue
12
Turn left onto US 1; US 76; US 378
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Gervais Street
13
Continue on Gervais Street
234 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
14
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.5 mi from Lakewood, SC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Lakewood, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.65 one way
$15.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.36 | $16.72 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.05 | $18.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.80 | $21.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.13 | $2.35 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.28 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Late night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
2:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 8m 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 Lakewood, SC to Columbia, SC covers 48.9 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 76, South Guignard Drive, Broad Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.5 miles from Lakewood, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.65 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 is a straightforward 1h 8m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Old Manning Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (US 15 / Summerton Highway): Navigation decision point; at 2.9 miles (US 15 / Pocalla Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lakewood, SC to Columbia, 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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