Origin
Orangeburg, SC
Evening in Orangeburg on Sunday
Local time
5:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Orangeburg, SC to Summerville, SC
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
54.7 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orangeburg, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Summerville, SC
Colon Freld
Trip Overview
The drive from Orangeburg, SC to Summerville, SC covers 54.7 miles and takes about 1h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, Five Chop Road, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44.3 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.75 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
27.3 miles from Orangeburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 2m highway drive covering 54.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and Five Chop Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 44.3 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 11 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 44.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Five Chop Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 601; US 21 Business / Magnolia Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 2m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 601; US 21 Business / Magnolia Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 301 / John C Calhoun Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 601; US 21 Business / Magnolia Street
Turn right onto US 601; US 21 Business / Magnolia Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 301 / John C Calhoun Drive
Turn left onto US 301 / John C Calhoun Drive
Navigation decision point
5
8.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
7
52.4 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
5
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
|
East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 44.3 mi | 47m |
| Five Chop Road | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| John C Calhoun Drive | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Magnolia Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Whitman Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Richardson Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 44.3 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orangeburg, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on Whitman Street
165 ft
·
12 sec
·
Whitman Street
2
Turn right onto US 601; US 21 Business
336 ft
·
13 sec
·
Magnolia Street
3
Turn left onto US 301
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
John C Calhoun Drive
4
Turn right onto US 301
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Five Chop Road
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
6
Merge onto I 26
44 mi
·
47 min
·
I 26
Use the none lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the none lane.
9
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right
92 ft
·
6 sec
11
Arrive at 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 27.3 miles from Orangeburg, SC, or about 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.3 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 54.7 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.3 miles or 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Orangeburg, 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 Orangeburg, SC
This is one driving day of about 54.7 miles and 1h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Orangeburg, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 44.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.3 mi from Orangeburg, SC · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 54.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Orangeburg, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Summerville, SC
The final approach into Summerville, 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 Summerville, 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
$8.75 one way
$17.51 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.54 | $19.08 |
| premium | $4.78 | $10.29 | $20.58 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.15 | $24.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Summerville, SC
Evening in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
5:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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 2m 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 Orangeburg, SC to Summerville, SC covers 54.7 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, Five Chop Road, North Main 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 27.3 miles from Orangeburg, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.75 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 2m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 601; US 21 Business / Magnolia Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 301 / John C Calhoun Drive): Navigation decision point; at 8.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Orangeburg, SC to Summerville, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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