Origin
Sumter, SC
Morning in Sumter on Saturday
Local time
7:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 53m
Distance
129.1 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 42m
★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sumter, SC
Junior Bastos
Kiawah Island, SC
Colon Freld
Trip Overview
The drive from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, SC covers 129.1 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Main Street, Manning Avenue, Manning Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.19 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
64.5 miles from Sumter, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 129.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 53m drive with frequent turns across 129.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, SC is easy. At 2h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | — | — |
| Manning Avenue | — | — |
| Manning Road | — | — |
| I 95 South | — | — |
| I 26 East | — | — |
| I 526 | — | — |
| I 526 West | — | — |
| Mark Clark Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumter, SC and Kiawah Island, SC.
1
Start on East Liberty Street
66 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
4
Continue on Manning Road
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Manning Road
5
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 South: Savannah
6
Merge slight left
36 mi
·
38 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East: Charleston
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 26 East: Charleston
8
Merge slight left
44 mi
·
48 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 526: Savannah, Mount Pleasant
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 526: Savannah, Mount Pleasant
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 526 West: Savannah
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 526 West: Savannah
11
Merge slight left onto Mark Clark Expressway
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Mark Clark Expressway
12
Turn right onto Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
417 ft
·
8 sec
·
Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
13
Turn right onto Savannah Highway
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Savannah Highway
14
Turn left onto Main Road
6.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Main Road
15
Continue on Bohicket Road
7.3 mi
·
17 min
·
Bohicket Road
16
Continue on Betsy Kerrison Parkway
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Betsy Kerrison Parkway
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Kiawah Island Parkway
308 ft
·
8 sec
·
Kiawah Island Parkway
18
Exit the roundabout onto Kiawah Island Parkway
4.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Kiawah Island Parkway
19
Turn right onto Green Dolphin Way
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Dolphin Way
20
Turn left onto Turtle Point Lane
374 ft
·
17 sec
·
Turtle Point Lane
21
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
43 sec
22
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Sumter, SC, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kiawah Island, 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 129.1 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Sumter, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.5 mi from Sumter, SC · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.5 miles from Sumter, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kiawah Island, SC
The final approach into Kiawah Island, 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 Kiawah Island, 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
$20.19 one way
$40.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $22.07 | $44.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.89 | $47.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.50 | $57.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.56 | $6.20 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.30 | $5.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Kiawah Island, SC
Morning in Kiawah Island on Saturday
Local time
7:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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
20 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 53m 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 Kiawah Island, SC covers 129.1 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Main Street, Manning Avenue, Manning Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.5 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 $20.19 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, SC is easy. At 2h 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sumter, SC to Kiawah Island, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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