Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
48.8 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakewood, SC
Jacob Evans
Columbia, SC to Lakewood, SC is 48.8 miles and takes about 1h 7m via Garners Ferry Road, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive with numerous turns and local road navigation, rather than a high-speed highway journey. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for exploration at your destination. Plan for a straightforward drive that prioritizes local routes over interstates.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garners Ferry Road | 36.2 mi | 45m |
| North Guignard Drive | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Old Manning Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Millwood Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Devine Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Gervais Street | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Summerton Highway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Lakewood, SC.
Start on Gervais Street
Turn right onto US 76; US 378
Continue on US 76; US 378
Continue on US 76; US 378
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business
Turn slight right onto US 521
Continue on US 521
Continue on US 521
Turn right onto US 15
Continue on US 15
Turn left onto Old Manning Road
Turn right onto Spoonville Lane
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 24.4 miles from Columbia, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 48.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 76; US 378 / Millwood Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business / Broad Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn right onto US 15 / Pocalla Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Old Manning Road
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Spoonville Lane
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.63 one way
$15.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.34 | $16.69 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.03 | $18.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.77 | $21.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.12 | $2.34 |
| Efficient EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.83 | $3.12 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads rather than a continuous highway. With a 0% highway share, you won't experience any interstate cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.2 miles along Garners Ferry Road. As you progress, the road will likely feel more like a familiar local thoroughfare with frequent intersections and changes in direction, requiring your attention to navigation.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 76; US 378 / Millwood Avenue.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 7m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (US 76; US 378 / Millwood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 40.3 miles (US 76 Business / Broad Street): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.8 miles (US 15 / Pocalla Road): Navigation decision point.
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 48.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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