Origin
Cheraw, SC
Late night in Cheraw on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cheraw, SC to Columbia, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 4m
Distance
89.9 mi
145 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 56m
★
6 AM
2h 5m
8 AM
2h 22m
10 AM
2h 11m
12 PM
2h 9m
3 PM
2h 12m
5 PM
2h 22m
8 PM
1h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cheraw, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cheraw, SC to Columbia, SC is 90 miles and takes about 2h 4m via US 1 and I 20, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it an easy choice for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, so it’s a practical option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss. Consider this route if you're looking for efficiency and minimal complexity in your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45 miles from Cheraw, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 1 | 51.9 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 20 | 24.1 mi | 27m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.8 mi | 5m |
| Cash Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Bull Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Sumter Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| York Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 1
— 51.9 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cheraw, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on US 1; US 52; SC 9
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Continue on US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck
0.5 mi
·
35 sec
·
Cash Boulevard
3
Continue on US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Cash Road
4
Turn left onto US 1; US 52
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 1; US 52
5
Turn straight onto US 1
51 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
US 1
6
Turn left onto Rippondon Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Rippondon Street
7
Continue on York Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
York Street
8
Turn left onto US 521
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
9
Continue on US 521
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Sumter Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
11
Merge onto I 20
24 mi
·
27 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.1 mi
·
2 min
Exit 73 A
Toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto SC 277
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on SC 277
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bull Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 1; US 378
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Gervais Street
16
Continue on Gervais Street
234 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
17
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. You can leave Cheraw anytime and still arrive in Columbia with plenty of daylight to spare. Given the relatively short distance and $14 fuel cost, making stops is entirely optional, but if you do need to stretch your legs, planning a brief break around the 51.9-mile mark on US 1 could break up the drive nicely. Ensure your fuel tank is adequately filled before leaving Cheraw, as the majority of the route is on interstate highways where services can be spread out.
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 45 miles from Cheraw, SC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.9 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 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45 miles or 1h 5m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cheraw, 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 Cheraw, SC
This is one driving day of about 89.9 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Cheraw, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 1 for about 51.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45 miles from Cheraw, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 54.7 and 83.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
54.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
Rippondon Street
Turn left onto Rippondon Street
Navigation decision point
4
55.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
US 521 / Broad Street
Turn left onto US 521 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
57.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
82 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m 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
83.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 55m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.06 one way
$28.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.37 | $30.74 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.64 | $33.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.85 | $39.70 |
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: 31.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27 | 0 | $9.44 | $4.32 |
| Efficient EV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36 | 0 | $12.59 | $5.75 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (65% 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 Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Camden, SC
45 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
32 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 4m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the journey taking place on interstates and major highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch on US 1, covering 51.9 miles, before transitioning to I 20 and the I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. Expect a generally consistent driving experience, largely free of the slowdowns associated with smaller local roads. The profile suggests a smooth ride with a clear path, making it easy to maintain a steady pace throughout the 89.9-mile distance.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.9 mi on US 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 1 and I 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 54.7 miles in near Rippondon Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 54.7 miles (Rippondon Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles (US 521 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 57.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 2h 4m. Total distance: 89.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.9 miles on US 1. 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 54.7 miles (Rippondon Street): Navigation decision point; at 55.7 miles (US 521 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 57.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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