Spanning 138.2 miles across South Carolina, your journey from Columbia to Conway is a straightforward trek that typically takes about 2 hours and 21 minutes. Since the entire trip stays within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent landscape as you transition from the state capital toward the coast. Budgeting roughly $22 for fuel is a safe bet for this direct transit. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. It is an efficient path that avoids complex logistics, making it a reliable choice for travelers looking to get from point A to point B quickly.
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
66.9 miles from Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
70.3 mi
1h 18m
US 501 Business
28.9 mi
35m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
4.9 mi
5m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
Bull Street
1.6 mi
2m
Pine Street
0.5 mi
1m
Elm Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 70.3 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Conway, SC.
1
Start on Gervais Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Gervais Street
2
Turn left onto US 76
1.6 mi·2 min·Bull Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on SC 277
4.9 mi·5 min·I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
4
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 20
70 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
7
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
8
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
29 mi·35 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 501; US 701
356 ft·19 sec·Church Street
10
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Pine Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto S-26-29
314 ft·13 sec·9th Avenue
12
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Elm Street
13
Turn left onto SC 905
461 ft·15 sec·4th Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
SC 905
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can become more tedious during rush hours. Since there are no formal stops scheduled along this 138.2-mile path, take advantage of the flexibility to pull over whenever you feel the need for a break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Columbia; while $22 covers the estimated cost, having a full tank before navigating the local segments is always a smart move. Because the drive is relatively short, you have the freedom to pace yourself and enjoy the transition between these two South Carolina locales. Prioritize staying focused on your navigation, as the lack of highway miles means you will be making frequent turns throughout the journey.
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 66.9 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.3 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 17m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conway, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC
This is one driving day of about 133.8 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Columbia, 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 20 for about 70.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 133.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 76 / Bull Street
Turn left onto US 76 / Bull Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
6.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
7.6 mi into trip|~10m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
132.7 mi into trip|~2h 41m in|Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|S-26-29 / 9th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto S-26-29 / 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.92 one way
$41.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.88
$45.76
premium
$4.70
$24.76
$49.53
diesel
$5.61
$29.54
$59.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.05
$6.42
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.71
$5.35
EV Truck/SUV
53.5
0
$18.73
$8.56
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Columbia, SC
Late night
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Conway, SC
Late night
in Conway on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Florence, SC
67 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
24 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
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 13.8
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise on this trek. You will navigate through local roads like Bull Street before connecting to I-20 East, meaning your experience will be defined by changing road types rather than a singular, monotonous stretch. The route features a 0% highway share, emphasizing the navigation of local infrastructure over high-speed interstate travel. Because the roads are technical and require your full attention, you should prepare for a driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish. There are no exceptionally long, uninterrupted stretches, so stay alert for changing speed limits and turn requirements.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.3 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 501 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 76 / Bull 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 2h 44m 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: at 0.4 miles (US 76 / Bull Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 70.3 miles on I 20. 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 0.4 miles (US 76 / Bull Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Conway, SC before heading back.
