Traveling from Belvedere to Summerville covers 132 miles across the Southeast, typically taking about 2 hours and 46 minutes to complete. Because this journey is relatively short, you can easily manage it as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $21 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your itinerary. You will primarily navigate via I-20 and I-26, supplemented by sections of North Road. Whether you are heading toward the coast or moving between regions, this route offers a straightforward connection for your South Carolina travels.
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
66 miles from Belvedere, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
44.3 mi
47m
I 20
26.6 mi
28m
North Road
16.3 mi
24m
Old Ninety Six Indian Trail
11.6 mi
16m
SC 394
7.1 mi
9m
Five Chop Road
6.1 mi
7m
John Nunn Highway
4.1 mi
5m
Chestnut Street
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 44.3 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belvedere, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on this road
37 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right
78 ft·10 sec
3
Turn left onto Carmel Street
117 ft·7 sec·Carmel Street
4
Turn right onto US 25; SC 121
2.4 mi·3 min·Edgefield Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 20
27 mi·28 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 33Toward SC 39: Wagener, MonettaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft·4 sec
Toward SC 39: Wagener, Monetta
9
Turn straight onto SC 39
12 mi·16 min·Old Ninety Six Indian Trail
10
Continue on SC 39
1.1 mi·2 min·Railroad Avenue West
11
Continue on SC 39
2.3 mi·3 min·Festival Trail Road
12
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 389
1.1 mi·2 min·Walker Road
13
Continue on SC 389
4.1 mi·5 min·John Nunn Highway
14
Turn left onto SC 394
1.1 mi·1 min·Salley Road
15
Enter roundabout onto SC 394
127 ft·1 sec·SC 394
16
Continue on SC 394
7.0 mi·9 min·SC 394
17
Turn right onto US 178
16 mi·24 min·North Road
18
Continue on US 178
3.1 mi·4 min·Chestnut Street
19
Continue on US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck
1.1 mi·1 min·Whittaker Parkway
20
Turn left onto US 301
6.1 mi·7 min·Five Chop Road
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
22
Merge onto I 26
44 mi·47 min·I 26
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 199AToward US 17 Alternate South: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·5 sec·East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2-hour and 46-minute drive, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best, though keeping an eye on interstate traffic patterns is always wise. Monitor your fuel gauge early on, as the $21 estimated cost is based on standard consumption patterns that can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Use your single planned stop to break up the 44.3-mile stretch on I-26, ensuring you arrive in Summerville feeling alert and ready for your next destination.
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 66 miles from Belvedere, SC, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.3 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 27m 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 19m
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 Belvedere, 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 Belvedere, SC
This is one driving day of about 132 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Belvedere, 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 44.3 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 129.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road
Turn right onto US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
29.6 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward SC 39: Wagener, Monetta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward SC 39: Wagener, Monetta
6
29.9 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 39: Wagener, Monetta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 39: Wagener, Monetta
7
129.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.64 one way
$41.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.57
$45.14
premium
$4.70
$24.43
$48.86
diesel
$5.61
$29.14
$58.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.2 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
39.6
0
$13.86
$6.34
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.55
$5.28
EV Truck/SUV
52.8
0
$18.48
$8.45
Gas CO2
46 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Belvedere, SC
Morning
in Belvedere on Sunday
Local time
8:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, SC
Morning
in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
8:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°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
1 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 46m 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.
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 68.3
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed transit with local road navigation. About 60% of your travel time will be spent on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the journey. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 44.3 miles while cruising along I-26. As you transition between the interstate and North Road, the atmosphere shifts from heavy traffic flow to a more localized driving experience. Prepare for a varied road environment that keeps you engaged through these different infrastructure styles.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.3 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 132 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Belvedere, SC to Summerville, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Monetta along the way.
Monetta
29.6 mi in|~34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 132 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.3 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Summerville, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 29.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Summerville, SC before heading back.
