Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
23m
Distance
18.4 mi
30 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Blythewood, SC
Colon Freld
If you are looking for a quick commute or a short excursion, the 18.4-mile trip from Blythewood to Columbia is an ideal candidate. You can expect to complete the journey in approximately 23 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $3 for fuel should be plenty to cover this transit. Because both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent atmosphere throughout the drive. This route is designed for efficiency, prioritizing speed over sightseeing to get you to your destination quickly.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Charles F Bolden Freeway | 8 mi | 8m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Bull Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Blythewood Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Blythewood, SC and Columbia, SC.
Start on US 21
Turn right onto Blythewood Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 277
Continue on SC 277
Turn right onto US 1; US 378
Continue on Gervais Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 18 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Blythewood Road
Navigation decision point
Take the ramp toward I 77 South: Columbia
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 277 / I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway toward SC 277: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 1; US 378 / Gervais Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.88 one way
$5.75 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.15 | $6.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.41 | $6.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.06 | $8.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Blythewood on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
7:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This highway-focused drive is efficient, with 83% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate via the Charles F Bolden Freeway, the I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway, and finally Bull Street as you enter the city. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Charles F Bolden Freeway, where you will cover 8 miles of road. Expect a steady, fast-paced rhythm rather than a scenic, winding backroad experience. As you transition from the freeway system onto local streets like Bull Street, the pace shifts from high-speed transit to urban navigation.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Charles F Bolden Freeway and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Blythewood Road.
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 18.4 miles you will encounter 5 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 (Blythewood Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Columbia is the capital city and second largest city in South Carolina. It is home to the main campus of the University of South Carolina, and to the Army's Fort Jackson. It is in the approximate geographic center of the state, and was one of the first planned cities in the United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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.
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