Origin
Columbia, SC
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Florence, 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 35m
Distance
81 mi
130 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick trip from Columbia to Florence, you can expect a straightforward 81-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it connects two major hubs within the Southeast without requiring an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-20 and the I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway before finishing your transit on West Evans Street. Budgeting roughly $13 for fuel makes this an economical choice for travelers heading across the state. Whether you are commuting or visiting for the day, the simplicity of the path allows for a stress-free transition between these two South Carolina cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 70.2 mi | 1h 18m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Bull Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Cheves Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Warley Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 70.2 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Florence, 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: Florence
Use 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 S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
7
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warley Street
8
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cheves Street
9
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
10
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility when choosing your departure time to avoid potential peak-hour traffic. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled along the 81-mile path, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to plan for lengthy breaks. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $13, so topping off your tank in Columbia is a smart way to ensure you have enough range for the entire duration. If you find yourself needing a breather, prioritize your rest before merging onto the I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway, as the remainder of the trip transitions quickly into city streets. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to maximize your time once you arrive in Florence.
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 40.5 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 18 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 47m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, 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 81 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Columbia, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 70.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.5 miles from Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.2 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 81 — 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.
4
80.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
Warley Street
Turn right onto Warley Street
Navigation decision point
5
81 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.67 one way
$25.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.85 | $27.70 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.99 | $29.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.88 | $35.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 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 | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.89 |
| Efficient EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.09 | $3.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.34 | $5.18 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Florence, SC
Late night in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Camden, SC
41 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
1 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 35m 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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 11.2
Caution: Burn Ban in Effect 4/17
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 93% of your travel time is spent on major thoroughfares. You will settle into a consistent rhythm during the longest uninterrupted stretch, which covers 70.2 miles along I-20. The personality of this drive is defined by speed and utility rather than winding backroads, making it a functional interstate grind. As you transition off the highway and approach your final destination, the route shifts into local navigation on West Evans Street. Behind the wheel, you will find the drive predictable and easy to manage, allowing you to focus on reaching Florence with minimal navigational effort.
93% 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: 70.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. 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 Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 35m 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.
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.
Arriving in Florence, SC
Full guide →Florence is a city in the Pee Dee Country Region of South Carolina. It was the site of the Florence Stockade, a Confederate POW camp, notably bad but still maybe not as bad as Andersonville, then a railroad hub, and nowadays a regional center for medical care and manufacturing, including as it sits at the terminus for I-20. Even though it got started rather late, in 1871, it's more or less the hub for northeastern South Carolina, aka Pee Dee Country.
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 35m. Total distance: 81 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.2 miles on I 20. 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 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 Florence, 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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