Origin
Surfside Beach, SC
Morning in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
6:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surfside Beach, SC to Sumter, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
107.8 mi
174 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Sumter, SC
Junior Bastos
Trip Overview
The drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Sumter, SC covers 107.8 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 521, Ocean Highway, North Brooks Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.8 miles on US Highway 521. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.86 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
53.9 miles from Surfside Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Sumter, SC covers 107.8 miles and takes about 2h 18m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US Highway 521 is the longest continuous segment at about 26.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.4 miles in near US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.4 miles (US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 86.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 86.3 miles (US 521; SC 261 / Greeleyville Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
27.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street
Merge onto US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
86.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
86.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
US 521; SC 261 / Greeleyville Highway
Merge onto US 521; SC 261 / Greeleyville Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
89.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m in
|
US 521 / North Church Street
Turn right onto US 521 / North Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
107.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
US 76 Business / East Liberty Street
Turn right onto US 76 Business / East Liberty Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 521 | 26.8 mi | 30m |
| Ocean Highway | 17.4 mi | 25m |
| North Brooks Street | 16.1 mi | 18m |
| C E Murray Boulevard | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Highmarket Street | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Georgetown Highway | 7.8 mi | 9m |
| US 17 Business | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| Greeleyville Highway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 521
— 26.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Sumter, SC.
1
Start on Surfside Drive
72 ft
·
7 sec
·
Surfside Drive
2
Continue on Surfside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Surfside Drive
3
Turn left onto US 17 Business
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
US 17 Business
4
Continue on US 17
17 mi
·
25 min
·
Ocean Highway
5
Continue on US 17
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
L. H. Siau Bridge
6
Continue on US 17
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
7
Merge onto US 17 Alternate; US 521
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Highmarket Street
8
Continue on US 521
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Georgetown Highway
9
Continue on US 521 Bus
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Georgetown Highway
10
Continue on US 521 Bus
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
11
Continue on US 521
27 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 521
12
Continue on US 521
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Society Street
13
Continue on US 521
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Society Street
14
Continue on US 521
12 mi
·
13 min
·
C E Murray Boulevard
15
Turn slight right
336 ft
·
4 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
17
Merge onto US 521; SC 261
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Greeleyville Highway
18
Continue on US 521; SC 261
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Boyce Street
19
Turn right onto US 521
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Church Street
20
Continue on US 301; US 521
16 mi
·
18 min
·
North Brooks Street
21
Continue on US 521
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Manning Avenue
22
Continue on South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Main Street
23
Turn right onto US 76 Business
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Liberty Street
24
Arrive at destination
US 76 Business
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 53.9 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.8 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 80 miles or 1h 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.9 miles or 1h 15m 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 54m
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 Surfside Beach, 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 Surfside Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 107.8 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Surfside Beach, 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 US Highway 521 for about 26.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 53.9 mi from Surfside Beach, SC · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 53.9 miles from Surfside Beach, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.86 one way
$33.72 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $18.43 | $36.86 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.95 | $39.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.80 | $47.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.32 | $5.17 |
| Efficient EV | 27 | 0 | $9.43 | $4.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.09 | $6.90 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
Sumter, SC
Morning in Sumter on Wednesday
Local time
6:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°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
26 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
2h 18m 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 Surfside Beach, SC to Sumter, SC covers 107.8 miles and takes about 2h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US Highway 521, Ocean Highway, North Brooks Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 53.9 miles from Surfside Beach, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.86 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 18m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.4 miles (US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 86.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 86.3 miles (US 521; SC 261 / Greeleyville Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Surfside Beach, SC to Sumter, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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