Origin
Clinton, SC
Morning in Clinton on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, 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
1h 12m
Distance
61.9 mi
100 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Clinton to Columbia, you are looking at a straightforward 61.9-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the entire journey, making it a very budget-friendly transit across South Carolina. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographical feel throughout the ride. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, this route offers a reliable and efficient way to connect the two locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 53.9 mi | 59m |
| I 126 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| North Adair Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Highway 72 East | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Huger Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Carolina Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Willard Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 53.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on US 76
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
East Carolina Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Adair Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North Adair Street
3
Turn straight onto SC 72 Business
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Willard Road
4
Continue on SC 72
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 72 East
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
6
Merge onto I 26
54 mi
·
59 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 126; US 76
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Huger Street
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Huger Street
10
Turn left onto Gervais Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
11
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31 miles from Clinton, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 61.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 126; US 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76 toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
6
60.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward Huger Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Huger Street
4
61.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
Gervais Street
Turn left onto Gervais Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.68 one way
$19.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.58 | $21.17 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.46 | $22.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.67 | $27.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.67 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 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
28 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
1h 12m 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 highly efficient transit, as this route is a highway-focused drive with 94% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-26, which accounts for a 53.9-mile stretch of your total mileage. After exiting the local roads of North Adair Street, the drive settles into a predictable interstate pace. The transition into the city is handled via I-126, keeping the experience consistent from start to finish. You should be prepared for a steady, high-speed environment rather than a winding or technical backroad experience.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 126. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 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 1h 12m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57 miles (I 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 1h 12m. Total distance: 61.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.9 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: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 57 miles (I 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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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