Origin
Camden, SC
Late night in Camden on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Camden, SC to Columbia, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
34.6 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Camden, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Camden and Columbia, this 34.6-mile trip is an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. You can expect to reach your destination in approximately 36 minutes, making it a very efficient connection within the Southeast region. With a fuel budget of just $6, the route is highly economical for travelers looking to move between these two South Carolina locales. Because of the short duration, there is no need to worry about overnight stops or extensive logistics. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a day of exploration, this straightforward drive offers a practical way to navigate between the two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 24.1 mi | 27m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Bull Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Sumter Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Gervais Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 24.1 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Camden, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on US 521; US 601
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Broad Street
2
Continue on US 521
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Sumter Highway
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
4
Merge onto I 20
24 mi
·
27 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 73 A
Toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto SC 277
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on SC 277
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bull Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn right onto US 1; US 378
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Gervais Street
9
Continue on Gervais Street
234 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
10
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 34.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
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 73 A
Toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
5
27.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
SC 277 / I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Merge onto SC 277 / I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
34.2 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 1; US 378 / Gervais Street
Turn right onto US 1; US 378 / Gervais Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.41 one way
$10.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.92 | $11.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.40 | $12.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.03 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.84 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Columbia, SC
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
43m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local-focused experience rather than a monotonous interstate haul on this 34.6-mile stretch. You will navigate primarily via the Sumter Highway and SC 277 South, keeping your focus on local road conditions rather than long-distance highway cruising. With a highway share of 0%, the route keeps you engaged with more frequent transitions and turns as you move through the landscape. The lack of a long, uninterrupted highway stretch means you should be prepared for a more hands-on driving experience. It is a simple, direct path that requires your attention as you shift from the local roads of Camden toward the urban environment of Columbia.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.1 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 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 43m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Columbia, SC
Full guide →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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 34.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.1 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National 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 Columbia, SC before heading back.
How this page is built
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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