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Trip from Columbia, SC to Duncan, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

97.7 mi

157 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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human settlement in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States of America

Duncan, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 97.7-mile journey from Columbia, SC to Duncan, SC is a straightforward, single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. With no highway driving and a fuel cost estimated at $16, it offers a relaxed pace. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Gervais Street, Assembly Street, and Elmwood Avenue, indicating a more connected, in-town feel for much of the drive. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's perfectly suited for a single day's travel within the Southeast region.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.9 miles from Columbia, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 79.2 mi 1h 26m
Moore Duncan Highway 6.2 mi 9m
East Main Street 5.8 mi 11m
I 126 3.8 mi 4m
Highway 221 0.9 mi 1m
Assembly Street 0.9 mi 2m
Elmwood Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
Gervais Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 79.2 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Duncan, SC.

1

Start on Gervais Street

434 ft · 17 sec · Gervais Street
2

Continue on US 1; US 378

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Gervais Street
3

Turn right onto SC 48

0.9 mi · 2 min · Assembly Street
4

At end of road, turn left onto US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321

0.5 mi · 1 min · Elmwood Avenue
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on I 126; US 76

3.8 mi · 4 min · I 126; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 26; US 76

56 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26

24 mi · 25 min · I 26
Toward Spartanburg Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 28 Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn slight left

95 ft · 2 sec
10

Turn left onto US 221

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 221
11

Turn right onto SC 290

6.2 mi · 9 min · Moore Duncan Highway
12

Continue on SC 290

5.8 mi · 11 min · East Main Street
13

Turn left onto South Spencer Street

126 ft · 3 sec · South Spencer Street
14

Arrive at destination

South Spencer Street

Trip Plan

For this 1 hour and 58-minute drive, consider departing in the late morning to avoid the busiest local traffic. Since there are no designated stops and the drive is under 100 miles, you have ample flexibility to pause for brief breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $16, and be mindful of the numerous turns indicated by the route's profile. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to road signs for Gervais Street, Assembly Street, and Elmwood Avenue, as these are key arteries for much of your 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.9 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.2 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 21 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 48.9 miles or 56m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Duncan, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Columbia, SC

This is one driving day of about 97.7 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Columbia, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 79.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Woodruff, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Woodruff, SC

49 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

Chapin, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Newberry, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.9 miles from Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.2 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Frankie's of Columbia

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Columbia, South Carolina

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 7

Hours: 12–10 pm

+18037812342

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Indah Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Columbia, South Carolina

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18037080275

Visit website

Piecewise Coffee Co. - Cayce

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cayce, South Carolina

2 mi

Possum's Coffee Shack

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Little Mountain, South Carolina

1.9 mi

Poindexter Coffee

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+18037797779

Visit website

Frankie's of Columbia

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 7

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 12–10 pm

+18037812342

Visit website

Indah Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18037080275

Visit website

Piecewise Coffee Co. - Cayce

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Cayce, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

+18037641044

Visit website

Possum's Coffee Shack

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 27.9

Little Mountain, South Carolina

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+18038164196

Visit website

The Game Show Challenge - Columbia

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+18034701112

Visit website

Escapology Escape Rooms Columbia (Vista)

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+18039004144

Visit website

Craft Axe Throwing

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 4–9 pm

+18032813803

Visit website

Columbia Museum of Art

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+18037992810

Visit website

South Carolina State Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+18038984921

Visit website

EdVenture

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18037793100

Visit website

Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+18035453100

Visit website

Memorial Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Columbia, South Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm

+18035453100

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 1.1 and 85.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
5.4 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 26; US 76

Merge onto I 26; US 76

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
61 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | I 26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Spartanburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward Spartanburg
8
84.6 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28 Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore
4
85.7 mi into trip | ~1h 37m in | SC 290 / Moore Duncan Highway

Turn right onto SC 290 / Moore Duncan Highway

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.28 one way

$30.56 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.71 $33.41
premium $4.70 $18.08 $36.16
diesel $5.61 $21.57 $43.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.3 0 $10.26 $4.69
Efficient EV 24.4 0 $8.55 $3.91
EV Truck/SUV 39.1 0 $13.68 $6.25

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 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 15, 2026

Origin

Columbia, SC

Late night in Columbia on Sunday

Local time

3:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Duncan, SC

Late night in Duncan on Sunday

Local time

3:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1h 58m 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 drive for the entirety of this 97.7-mile route, as indicated by its 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating through towns and local thoroughfares rather than open highways. The lack of significant highway stretches suggests a consistent pace without long, uninterrupted periods of high-speed driving. The character of the drive will likely involve frequent intersections and a more engaged driving experience as you transition through various local environments.

86% 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: 79.2 mi on I 26.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Moore Duncan Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue.

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 58m 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 1.1 miles (US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Columbia, SC and Duncan, SC, road signs point toward Spartanburg and Moore.

Spartanburg

61 mi in | ~1h 10m | via I 26

Moore

84.6 mi in | ~1h 35m

About the Cities

Starting 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 58m. Total distance: 97.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 79.2 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 1.1 miles (US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Duncan, 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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