Skip to main content
Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from Yemassee, SC to Columbia, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 3m

Distance

111.3 mi

179 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 55m ★
6 AM
2h 4m
8 AM
2h 21m
10 AM
2h 10m
12 PM
2h 8m
3 PM
2h 11m
5 PM
2h 20m
8 PM
1h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Yemassee, SC, SC

Yemassee, SC

Connor Scott McManus

Trip Overview

The drive from Yemassee, SC to Columbia, SC covers 111.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m 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, Jarvis Klapman Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57.1 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.40 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

55.7 miles from Yemassee, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 111.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 3m highway drive covering 111.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 57.1 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 13 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 57.1 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 around 1.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn left toward I 95 North: Florence

Navigation decision point

Toward I 95 North: Florence
4
49.1 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward I 26 West: Columbia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5
49.5 mi into trip | ~55m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
106.6 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward US 1 North: West Columbia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 111B Toward US 1 North: West Columbia
5
110.6 mi into trip | ~2h 1m in | US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street

Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 57.1 mi 1h 1m
I 95 47.5 mi 50m
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard 2.7 mi 3m
Yemassee Highway 1.4 mi 2m
Gervais Street 0.6 mi 1m
Augusta Road 0.6 mi <1m
Hampton Street 0.3 mi <1m
Williams Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 57.1 mi, about 1h 1m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Yemassee, SC and Columbia, SC.

1

Start on Yemassee Highway

1.4 mi · 2 min · Yemassee Highway
2

Turn left

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 95 North: Florence
3

Merge onto I 95

48 mi · 50 min · I 95
4

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5

Merge onto I 26

57 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 111B Toward US 1 North: West Columbia Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto US 1

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Augusta Road
8

Turn straight onto SC 12

2.7 mi · 3 min · Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
9

Continue on SC 12

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Hampton Street
10

Turn right onto Williams Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Williams Street
11

Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Huger Street
12

Turn left onto Gervais Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
13

Arrive at destination

Gervais Street

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 55.7 miles from Yemassee, SC, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.1 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 24 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 55.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Yemassee, 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 Yemassee, SC

This is one driving day of about 111.3 miles and 2h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Yemassee, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 57.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.7 mi from Yemassee, SC · 1h 1m into the drive

Downtown Brookdale, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookdale, SC

56 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

Walterboro, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookdale, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.7 miles from Yemassee, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Columbia, SC

The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 84.5
Caution: Burn Ban in Effect 4/17
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
View on nps.gov
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.40 one way

$34.81 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $19.03 $38.06
premium $4.70 $20.60 $41.20
diesel $5.61 $24.57 $49.15

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: 38.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.4 0 $11.69 $5.34
Efficient EV 27.8 0 $9.74 $4.45
EV Truck/SUV 44.5 0 $15.58 $7.12

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Yemassee, SC

Morning in Yemassee on Saturday

Local time

6:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Columbia, SC

Morning in Columbia on Saturday

Local time

6:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookdale, SC

56 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

37 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 3m 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 Yemassee, SC to Columbia, SC covers 111.3 miles and takes about 2h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 26, I 95, Jarvis Klapman Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 55.7 miles from Yemassee, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.40 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 3m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 49.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 49.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Yemassee, SC to Columbia, 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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Columbia, SC to Yemassee, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

111.6 mi 2h 5m

Continue From Columbia, SC

Hilton Head, SC 154.3 mi · 2h 59m Bluffton, SC 149.1 mi · 2h 52m Westminster, SC 147.9 mi · 3h 3m Myrtle Beach, SC 138.4 mi · 3h 6m

More from Yemassee, SC

Spartanburg, SC 198.2 mi · 3h 42m North Charleston, SC 64.9 mi · 1h 29m

More trips to Columbia, SC

Little River, SC 160.8 mi Hardeeville, SC 142.2 mi Burton, SC 135.6 mi Forestbrook, SC 134.8 mi Central, SC 127.5 mi Pendleton, SC 125.1 mi
Scenic drives in SC

Explore more options from Yemassee, SC or browse trips ending in Columbia, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.