Traveling from Burnettown to Summerville, South Carolina, covers 120.7 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 44 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance within the Southeast region, it works perfectly as a straightforward one-day trip. You should budget approximately $19 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating a mix of local routes like Salley Road and North Road alongside I-26, the drive offers a balanced pace. Whether you are heading out for work or a quick getaway, the route is efficient enough that you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower, more relaxed pace.
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
60.4 miles from Burnettown, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
44.3 mi
47m
North Road
16.3 mi
24m
Salley Road
14.8 mi
24m
Wagener Road
12.8 mi
19m
SC 394
7.1 mi
9m
Five Chop Road
6.1 mi
7m
Augusta Road
5.6 mi
10m
Richland Avenue West
3.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 44.3 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnettown, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on SC 421
5.6 mi·10 min·Augusta Road
2
Turn straight onto US 1; US 78
3.3 mi·5 min·Richland Avenue West
3
Continue on US 1; US 78
2.4 mi·3 min·Richland Avenue East
4
Continue on SC 4
13 mi·19 min·Wagener Road
5
Turn straight onto SC 4
0.6 mi·1 min·Salley Road
6
Continue on SC 394
9.1 mi·15 min·Salley Road
7
Continue on SC 394
1.0 mi·1 min·Walnut Street West
8
Continue on SC 394
5.1 mi·7 min·Salley Road
9
Enter roundabout onto SC 394
127 ft·1 sec·SC 394
10
Continue on SC 394
7.0 mi·9 min·SC 394
11
Turn right onto US 178
16 mi·24 min·North Road
12
Continue on US 178
3.1 mi·4 min·Chestnut Street
13
Continue on US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck
1.1 mi·1 min·Whittaker Parkway
14
Turn left onto US 301
6.1 mi·7 min·Five Chop Road
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
16
Merge onto I 26
44 mi·47 min·I 26
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 199AToward US 17 Alternate South: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·5 sec·East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding when you decide to hit the road. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain your 2-hour and 44-minute estimated arrival time. With only one recommended stop planned, you can easily manage the drive in a single push, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before hopping onto I-26. Given that the route involves a transition between local roads and a significant interstate stretch, stay alert during the merge onto the highway. Planning your single stop near the transition between Salley Road and the interstate is a smart way to break up the drive effectively.
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 60.4 miles from Burnettown, SC, or about 1h 33m 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 27 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.4 miles or 1h 33m 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 Burnettown, 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 Burnettown, SC
This is one driving day of about 120.7 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Burnettown, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 40 and 120.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
40 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|SC 394
Enter roundabout onto SC 394
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|US 301 / Five Chop Road
Turn left onto US 301 / Five Chop Road
Navigation decision point
7
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 40m 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
120.7 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
120.7 mi into trip|~2h 44m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.87 one way
$37.75 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.64
$41.28
premium
$4.70
$22.34
$44.68
diesel
$5.61
$26.65
$53.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.56
$4.83
EV Truck/SUV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Burnettown, SC
Morning
in Burnettown on Sunday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, SC
Morning
in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
7:30 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
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
2h 44m 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 54.1
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 120.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 120.7-mile trek is a classic mixed-profile drive, featuring a 43% highway share that keeps the trip moving steadily. You will spend time navigating local roads like Salley Road and North Road before merging onto the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 44.3 miles on I-26, which provides a welcome break from the tighter turns of the local segments. Expect the road's personality to shift from the quieter, localized feel of the start to the more predictable, high-speed flow of the interstate. It is a practical drive that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding on your focus.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 40 miles in near SC 394.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 44m 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 40 miles (SC 394): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.6 miles (US 301 / Five Chop Road): Navigation decision point; at 118.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
505 ft40 ft
Total Climb
562 ft
Total Descent
668 ft
Highest Point
505 ft
~10.1 mi in
Elevation Range
465 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 120.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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 40 miles (SC 394): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.6 miles (US 301 / Five Chop Road): Navigation decision point; at 118.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
