The drive from Sumter, SC to Folly Beach, SC covers 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 19m 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, Manning Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 52.3 miles on I 26.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.01 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
57.6 miles from Sumter, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 115.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 19m highway drive covering 115.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 52.3 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 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 52.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 11 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 (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 51.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
15 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
51.4 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
51.7 mi into trip|~59m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
105.1 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|SC 30
Take the ramp onto SC 30 toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
52.3 mi
59m
I 95
36 mi
38m
Manning Road
13.1 mi
15m
Folly Road
6.7 mi
12m
James Island Expressway
2.6 mi
3m
Manning Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Crosstown
0.5 mi
1m
Center Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 52.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumter, SC and Folly Beach, SC.
1
Start on US 76 Business
65 ft·8 sec·East Liberty Street
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi·34 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on Manning Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·Manning Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 521
13 mi·15 min·Manning Road
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
6
Merge onto I 95
36 mi·38 min·I 95
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 86AToward I 26 East: Charleston
8
Merge onto I 26
52 mi·59 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on US 17
0.5 mi·1 min·Crosstown
10
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi·15 sec·Septima P. Clark Parkway
11
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi·13 sec·Spring Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on Spring Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Spring Street
13
Turn left onto SC 30
0.1 mi·26 sec·Lockwood Drive
14
Take the ramp onto SC 30
0.3 mi·41 sec·SC 30
Toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
15
Merge onto SC 30
2.6 mi·3 min·James Island Expressway
16
At end of road, turn left onto SC 171
6.7 mi·12 min·Folly Road
17
Continue on SC 171
0.4 mi·1 min·Center Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto East Arctic Avenue
64 ft·1 sec·East Arctic Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East Arctic Avenue
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 57.6 miles from Sumter, SC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.3 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Folly Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC
This is one driving day of about 115.2 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Sumter, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 52.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.6 mi from Sumter, SC
· 1h 5m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 107.2
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.01 one way
$36.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.70
$39.39
premium
$4.70
$21.32
$42.64
diesel
$5.61
$25.43
$50.87
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
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.13
$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 18, 2026
Origin
Sumter, SC
Late night
in Sumter on Saturday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Folly Beach, SC
Late night
in Folly Beach on Saturday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 19m 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 Sumter, SC to Folly Beach, SC covers 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 95, Manning Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.6 miles from Sumter, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.01 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 2h 19m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 51.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Sumter, SC to Folly Beach, 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.
