Origin
Sumter, SC
Late night in Sumter on Friday
Local time
2:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sumter, SC to Great Falls, SC
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
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
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
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.
Sumter, SC
Junior Bastos
Great Falls, SC
Wilson Rodriguez
Trip Overview
The drive from Sumter, SC to Great Falls, 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 Sumter, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m 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 (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
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 17 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 0.2 miles in near US 76 Business / North Washington Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sumter, SC to Great Falls, SC is easy. At 1h 36m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 76 Business / North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.8 miles (SC 97 / Liberty Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.3 miles (SC 97; SC 200 / Cedar Creek Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 76 Business / North Washington Street
Turn right onto US 76 Business / North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
30.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
SC 97 / Liberty Hill Road
Turn left onto SC 97 / Liberty Hill Road
Navigation decision point
4
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
SC 97; SC 200 / Cedar Creek Road
At end of road, turn left onto SC 97; SC 200 / Cedar Creek Road
Navigation decision point
4
61 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
US 21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 21
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
62.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
|
US 21; SC 200 / Chester Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 21; SC 200 / Chester Avenue
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 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| Thomas Sumter Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Broad Street | 6 mi | 11m |
| Liberty Hill Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| US 21 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
John G Richards Road
— 18.5 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumter, SC and Great Falls, SC.
1
Start on US 76 Business
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Liberty Street
2
Turn right onto US 76 Business
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
North Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 76 Business
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Broad Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Camden Highway
5
Continue on US 521
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Thomas Sumter Highway
6
Continue on US 521
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Camden Highway
7
Continue on US 521
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Sumter Highway
8
Continue on US 521
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Broad Street
9
Turn left onto SC 97
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Liberty Hill Road
10
Continue on SC 97
18 mi
·
32 min
·
John G Richards Road
11
Continue on SC 97
9.6 mi
·
16 min
·
Cedar Creek Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto SC 97; SC 200
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Cedar Creek Road
13
Continue on SC 97; SC 200
526 ft
·
10 sec
·
State Highway 97
14
Continue on US 21
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 21
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 21
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 21
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 21; SC 200
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Chester Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
US 21; SC 200
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 Sumter, SC, or about 41m 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 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.4 miles or 41m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sumter, SC
This is one driving day of about 62.8 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.4 miles from Sumter, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Great Falls, SC
The final approach into Great Falls, 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
$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.
Destination
Great Falls, SC
Late night in Great Falls on Friday
Local time
2:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 36m 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 Great Falls, 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 Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC to Great Falls, SC is easy. At 1h 36m with 2% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 76 Business / North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.8 miles (SC 97 / Liberty Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 60.3 miles (SC 97; SC 200 / Cedar Creek Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Sumter, SC to Great Falls, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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