Origin
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Lexington, 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
20m
Distance
12.8 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lexington, SC
Colon Freld
Trip Overview
This quick 12.8-mile drive from Columbia, SC to Lexington, SC takes approximately 20 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. You'll navigate primarily local roads, with no highway driving involved, making it a straightforward journey. The estimated fuel cost is a very reasonable $2, so you won't break the bank on gas. This route is entirely within the Southeast region, keeping you within the familiar SC landscape. Given its short distance and minimal duration, it's perfect for a quick errand or a seamless transition between these two South Carolina cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Jarvis Klapman Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Huger Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Hampton Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Taylor Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Augusta Road
— 7.7 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Lexington, SC.
1
Start on Gervais Street
434 ft
·
17 sec
·
Gervais Street
2
Continue on US 1; US 378
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Gervais Street
3
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Huger Street
4
Turn left onto SC 12
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Taylor Street
5
Continue on SC 12
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
Hampton Street
6
Continue on SC 12
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 1
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Augusta Road
8
Continue on US 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
9
Arrive at destination
US 1
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 1.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
SC 12 / Taylor Street
Turn left onto SC 12 / Taylor Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.00 one way
$4.00 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.19 | $4.38 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.37 | $4.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.83 | $5.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.34 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.12 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.79 | $0.82 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Lexington, SC
Morning in Lexington on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
2 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
20m 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 this 12.8-mile trip. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating city streets and local thoroughfares for the entire journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.7 miles along Augusta Road. This means you'll be making frequent turns and potentially encountering moderate local traffic as you move between Columbia and Lexington. The road character is consistent, focusing on local connectivity rather than high-speed travel.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.7 mi on Augusta Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbia, SC to Lexington, SC is easy. At 20m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (SC 12 / Taylor Street): Navigation decision point.
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 Lexington, SC
Full guide →Lexington is a town of 24,000 people (2020) in Lexington County, South Carolina and a suburb of Columbia, the state's capital. There are a few attractions locally, and Columbia has several great attractions.
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 20m. Total distance: 12.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.7 miles on Augusta Road. 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 0.8 miles (US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (SC 12 / Taylor Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lexington, 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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