Connecting Cayce to Summerville is a straightforward 88.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 39 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Navigating the route is uncomplicated, relying primarily on I-26, Charleston Highway, and North Main Street. Whether you are heading toward the coast for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable and efficient path through South Carolina. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a quick, direct transition between cities rather than a multi-day expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.4 miles from Cayce, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
82.9 mi
1h 29m
Charleston Highway
2.3 mi
2m
North Main Street
2 mi
3m
Glenn Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Middleton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Richardson Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 82.9 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cayce, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on Middleton Street
165 ft·8 sec·Middleton Street
2
Turn right onto Glenn Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·Glenn Street
3
Turn left onto US 21; US 176; US 321
2.3 mi·2 min·Charleston Highway
4
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
Merge onto I 26
83 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 26
Use the right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 199AToward US 17 Alternate South: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·5 sec·East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak commuting hours is always a smart move to ensure a smooth flow on I-26. You likely will not need a formal rest stop given the sub-two-hour duration, but keeping a water bottle and snacks handy is always good practice. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Cayce, as budgeting the $14 for gas beforehand simplifies your arrival in Summerville. Because the route is so heavily dominated by interstate driving, ensure your vehicle’s tire pressure is checked before you head out to handle the sustained speeds. Taking advantage of the direct nature of this drive means you can spend more time enjoying your destination rather than worrying about complex navigation.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.4 miles from Cayce, SC, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.9 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 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 1h 23m
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 Cayce, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cayce, SC
This is one driving day of about 88.8 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Cayce, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 82.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 88.7 — 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|Glenn Street
Turn right onto Glenn Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
3.5 mi into trip|~5m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
86.4 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
88.7 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.89 one way
$27.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.18
$30.37
premium
$4.70
$16.43
$32.87
diesel
$5.61
$19.61
$39.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.32
$4.26
Efficient EV
22.2
0
$7.77
$3.55
EV Truck/SUV
35.5
0
$12.43
$5.68
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Cayce, SC
Late night
in Cayce on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, SC
Late night
in Summerville on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
60°F
Brookdale, SC
44 mi in
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
25 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
1h 39m 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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 21.4
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 88.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience with 93% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. The vast majority of your journey, totaling 82.9 miles, is spent on a single, uninterrupted stretch of I-26. Because of this, the drive moves quickly and lacks the technical complexity of winding backroads or frequent intersections. You will find that the road maintains a consistent pace, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel. While the route is largely utilitarian, its focus on interstate travel ensures you reach your destination in Summerville without the fatigue often associated with navigating dense local traffic for extended periods.
93% 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: 82.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Charleston Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Glenn Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Glenn Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 88.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 82.9 miles on I 26. 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: near the start (Glenn Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
