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Trip from Piedmont, SC to Sumter, SC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 1m

Distance

148.2 mi

239 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 50m ★
6 AM
3h 1m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 9m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 11m
5 PM
3h 23m
8 PM
2h 55m

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 Piedmont, SC, SC

Piedmont, SC

Samuele Pellegrino

Downtown Sumter, SC, SC

Sumter, SC

Junior Bastos

Trip Overview

The drive from Piedmont, SC to Sumter, SC covers 148.2 miles and takes about 3h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, Garners Ferry Road, Golden Strip Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.8 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.18 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

74.1 miles from Piedmont, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 25m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 148.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive from Piedmont, SC to Sumter, SC covers 148.2 miles and takes about 3h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 55.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in near I 185 / Southern Connector.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 148.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (I 185 / Southern Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.2 miles (I 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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
4.1 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 185 / Southern Connector

Merge onto I 185 / Southern Connector

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
13.7 mi into trip | ~19m in | I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway

Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
99.2 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in | I 126; US 76

Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76 toward I 126, US 76: Columbia

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
6
102.6 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward Huger Street

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Huger Street
6
144.5 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in | US 76 Business / Broad Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business / Broad Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 55.8 mi 1h 1m
Garners Ferry Road 36.2 mi 45m
Golden Strip Freeway 29.8 mi 32m
Southern Connector 8.8 mi 9m
I 126 3.4 mi 4m
Broad Street 3.2 mi 5m
Piedmont Highway 2.7 mi 4m
Gervais Street 1.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 55.8 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Iler Street

180 ft · 7 sec · Iler Street
2

Turn slight right onto SC 86

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Anderson Street
3

Continue on SC 86

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Turn left onto SC 20

2.7 mi · 4 min · Piedmont Highway
5

Take the ramp

0.7 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto I 185

8.8 mi · 9 min · Southern Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 385 South: Columbia
8

Merge onto US 276

0.2 mi · 13 sec · US 276
9

Merge onto I 385

30 mi · 32 min · Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 26

56 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 26
Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76

3.4 mi · 4 min · I 126; US 76
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Huger Street Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321

0.7 mi · 1 min · Huger Street
14

Turn left onto Gervais Street

1.9 mi · 4 min · Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
15

Turn right onto US 76; US 378

1.4 mi · 2 min · Millwood Avenue
16

Continue on US 76; US 378

1.3 mi · 2 min · Devine Street
17

Continue on US 76; US 378

36 mi · 45 min · Garners Ferry Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business

3.2 mi · 5 min · Broad Street
Use the left lane.
19

Continue on US 76 Business

0.4 mi · 49 sec · North Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Turn left onto US 76 Business

0.2 mi · 20 sec · West Liberty Street
21

Arrive at destination

US 76 Business

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.1 miles from Piedmont, SC, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 33 miles or 40m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 74.1 miles or 1h 25m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 26m

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 Piedmont, 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 Piedmont, SC

This is one driving day of about 148.2 miles and 3h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Piedmont, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 55.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74.1 mi from Piedmont, SC · 1h 25m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Columbia, SC

74 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

Fountain Inn, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 76.3 miles from Piedmont, 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.

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...

11 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 122.7
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.18 one way

$46.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $25.34 $50.68
premium $4.70 $27.43 $54.86
diesel $5.61 $32.72 $65.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.5 0 $15.56 $7.11
Efficient EV 37.1 0 $12.97 $5.93
EV Truck/SUV 59.3 0 $20.75 $9.48

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% 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 13, 2026

Origin

Piedmont, SC

Evening in Piedmont on Thursday

Local time

6:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sumter, SC

Evening in Sumter on Thursday

Local time

6:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

37 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

3h 1m 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 Piedmont, SC to Sumter, SC covers 148.2 miles and takes about 3h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, Garners Ferry Road, Golden Strip Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.1 miles from Piedmont, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.18 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 148.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles (I 185 / Southern Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.2 miles (I 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Piedmont, SC to Sumter, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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