The drive from Union, SC to Summerville, SC covers 150.8 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, I 26, Kershaw Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.58 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
75.4 miles from Union, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 150.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Union, SC to Summerville, SC covers 150.8 miles and takes about 3h, 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 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 36 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
664 ft73 ft
Total Climb
114 ft
Total Descent
680 ft
Highest Point
664 ft
~10.8 mi in
Elevation Range
591 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 150.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
7
148.5 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
5
150.8 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
36 mi
38m
I 26
30.3 mi
32m
Kershaw Highway
14.4 mi
16m
Manning Road
12.1 mi
13m
Kershaw Camden Highway
8.8 mi
10m
Sumter Highway
8.4 mi
9m
Camden Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Rocky River Road
7.7 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 36 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on this road
225 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn sharp left
248 ft·7 sec
3
Enter roundabout
11 ft·0 sec
4
Continue
187 ft·3 sec
5
Continue on SC 522
7.7 mi·13 min·Rocky River Road
6
Merge onto US 521; SC 522
1.4 mi·1 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
7
Continue on US 521; SC 522
1.0 mi·1 min·North Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 521
0.8 mi·54 sec·Spring Street
9
Continue on US 521
4.8 mi·5 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
10
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.5 mi·1 min·North Matson Street
11
Continue on US 521; US 601
0.7 mi·47 sec·South Hampton Street
12
Continue on US 521; US 601
2.7 mi·3 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
13
Continue on US 521; US 601
14 mi·16 min·Kershaw Highway
14
Continue on US 521; US 601
4.2 mi·8 min·North Broad Street
15
Continue on US 521
8.4 mi·9 min·Sumter Highway
16
Continue on US 521
6.2 mi·7 min·Camden Highway
17
Continue on US 521
7.6 mi·8 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
18
Continue on US 521
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
19
Turn slight left onto US 521; US 76 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street
20
Turn slight right onto US 521
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
21
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi·4 min·North Guignard Drive
22
Continue on US 521
1.1 mi·1 min·South Guignard Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto US 521
12 mi·13 min·Manning Road
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
25
Merge onto I 95
36 mi·38 min·I 95
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·51 sec
Exit 86AToward I 26 East: Charleston
27
Merge onto I 26
30 mi·32 min·I 26
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 199AToward US 17 Alternate South: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·5 sec·East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
32
Arrive at destination
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 75.4 miles from Union, SC, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.4 miles or 1h 36m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union, 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 Union, SC
This is one driving day of about 150.8 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Union, 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 95 for about 36 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.4 mi from Union, SC
· 1h 36m into the drive
The midpoint is around 75.4 miles from Union, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Summerville, SC
The final approach into Summerville, 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 Summerville, 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
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...
23 mi from route
~57 min detour
Free
near mile 57.2
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 150.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.58 one way
$47.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.78
$51.57
premium
$4.70
$27.91
$55.82
diesel
$5.61
$33.29
$66.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.83
$7.24
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.03
EV Truck/SUV
60.3
0
$21.11
$9.65
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Union, SC
Late night
in Union on Friday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, SC
Late night
in Summerville on Friday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 1 to 9 mph0% chanceLive 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
34 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
3h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Union, SC to Summerville, SC covers 150.8 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 26, Kershaw Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.4 miles from Union, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.58 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 150.8 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Union, SC to Summerville, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 73 ft to 664 ft elevation with about 114 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Congaree National Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
Elevation is sampled from
USGS 3DEP.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
