Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
23.9 mi
38 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oak Grove, SC
Ylanite Koppens
Columbia, SC to Oak Grove, SC is 23.9 miles and takes about 29m via I 26 and US 21, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, same-day trip stays within the Southeast region and the state of South Carolina. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on major roads, making it an easy option for quick travel between these two points. You'll find it's a practical choice if you need to get from Columbia to Oak Grove without a lot of fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 17.2 mi | 19m |
| Jarvis Klapman Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| US 21 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Augusta Road | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Huger Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Hampton Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Taylor Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Oak Grove, SC.
Start on Gervais Street
Continue on US 1; US 378
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321
Turn left onto SC 12
Continue on SC 12
Continue on SC 12
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Merge onto I 26
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 21
Turn slight right onto Stabler Hill Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 22.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto SC 12 / Taylor Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 21
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto US 21
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.74 one way
$7.47 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.09 | $8.17 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.42 | $8.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Late night in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
4:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Oak Grove on Tuesday
Local time
4:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
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 predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 77% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 26, including a longest stretch of 17.2 miles on this interstate. While there's a segment on Jarvis Klapman Boulevard and US 21, the overall feel is that of efficient travel on established roadways. Expect a consistent pace for most of the drive, designed for getting you to your destination quickly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Jarvis Klapman Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near SC 12 / Taylor Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 29m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (SC 12 / Taylor Street): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbia, SC to Oak Grove, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
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 29m. Total distance: 23.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
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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