Anderson County Airport, SC to Bishopville, SC is 172.3 miles and takes about 3h 28m via I 26 and I 20, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. For a single-day trip, this drive offers a straightforward path with mostly highway cruising. It's a manageable distance that allows for a relatively quick transit between these two points, making it a practical option for getting from one area to the other without a significant time commitment.
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
86.1 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
55.2 mi
1h
I 20
51.9 mi
58m
Golden Strip Freeway
22.9 mi
24m
Highway 418
9.9 mi
14m
Cooley Bridge Road
5.6 mi
8m
Belton Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Highway 247
3.6 mi
4m
East River Street
2.6 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 55.2 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,674 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,103
Quietest
2 AM
~199 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson County Airport, SC and Bishopville, SC.
1
Start on this road
293 ft·21 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Airport Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Airport Road
3
Turn right onto SC 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Highway 24
4
Continue on SC 24
1.0 mi·1 min·West Whitner Street
5
Turn right onto SC 28
2.2 mi·2 min·Highway 28 Bypass
6
Continue on SC 28
0.5 mi·33 sec·Pearman Dairy Road
7
Turn left onto US 29
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Murray Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 29
2.0 mi·2 min·West Shockley Ferry Road
9
Turn right onto US 29; US 76; US 178
2.6 mi·3 min·East River Street
10
Continue on US 76; US 178
4.7 mi·6 min·Belton Highway
11
Continue on US 76; US 178
2.3 mi·3 min·Anderson Street
12
Turn left onto SC 20
374 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
13
Turn right onto SC 247
1.3 mi·2 min·River Street
14
Continue on SC 247
3.6 mi·4 min·Highway 247
15
Continue on SC 247
5.6 mi·8 min·Cooley Bridge Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 25
0.1 mi·13 sec·Augusta Road
17
Turn right onto SC 418
9.9 mi·14 min·Highway 418
18
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi·2 min·Milacron Drive
19
Continue on SC 418
0.2 mi·19 sec·McCarter Road
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
21
Merge onto I 385
23 mi·24 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 26
55 mi·1 hr·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto I 20
52 mi·58 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward US 15: Sumter, Bishopville
26
Turn right onto US 15
1.8 mi·3 min·Sumter Highway
27
Continue on US 15
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 15; SC 34; SC 341
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 28m estimated drive time and 172.3 miles, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and any unforeseen delays. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, it's wise to ensure your tank is full before leaving Anderson County Airport, SC, as there is only one planned stop. The longest stretch without a major change is 55.2 miles on I 26, so plan your rest stop accordingly before or after this segment to break up the highway driving.
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 86.1 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 38 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.1 miles or 1h 49m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bishopville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anderson County Airport, 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 Anderson County Airport, SC
This is one driving day of about 172.3 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Anderson County Airport, 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 26 for about 55.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.3 and 169.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
39.3 mi into trip|~59m in|I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
117.3 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
117.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
169.6 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Sumter, Bishopville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 15: Sumter, Bishopville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.41 one way
$54.81 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$29.88
$59.76
premium
$4.78
$32.42
$64.84
diesel
$5.35
$36.29
$72.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.7
0
$18.09
$8.27
Efficient EV
43.1
0
$15.08
$6.89
EV Truck/SUV
68.9
0
$24.12
$11.03
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Anderson County Airport, SC
Afternoon
in Anderson County Airport on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 9 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 7:55PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued June 2 at 7:14PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Destination
Bishopville, SC
Afternoon
in Bishopville on Wednesday
Local time
3:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
NE 2 to 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued June 2 at 7:55PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued June 2 at 7:14PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
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
2 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
3h 28m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 130.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 85% of the 172.3 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 55.2 miles on I 26 before transitioning to other major roads. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate between these interstate segments. The profile is mostly highway, suggesting a consistent pace for most of the 3h 28m duration.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.2 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 39.3 miles in near I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 28m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 39.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
829 ft164 ft
Total Climb
465 ft
Total Descent
999 ft
Highest Point
829 ft
~24.6 mi in
Elevation Range
664 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 172.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.2 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Bishopville, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
