Origin
Columbia, SC
Afternoon in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Saint Andrews, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
6.3 mi
10 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 12m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 14m
8 PM
0h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Andrews, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 6.3-mile drive from Columbia, SC to Saint Andrews, SC is a quick local trip, taking about 12 minutes. It's an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You'll navigate primarily via Broad River Road and Assembly Street, with a brief stint on I-126. Given its minimal distance, the estimated fuel cost is a very low $1, making it an economical choice. This route is entirely within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward journey through familiar territory.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad River Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| I 126 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Assembly Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Greystone Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Elmwood Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Whiteford Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Broad River Road
— 2.2 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Saint Andrews, 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
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 126; US 76
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Greystone Boulevard, Riverbanks Zoo
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
319 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Greystone Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto Greystone Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Greystone Boulevard
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 176
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Broad River Road
10
Turn right onto Whiteford Road
276 ft
·
12 sec
·
Whiteford Road
11
Arrive at destination
Whiteford Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 6.3 — 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.
7
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward Greystone Boulevard, Riverbanks Zoo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Greystone Boulevard, Riverbanks Zoo
8
3.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Greystone Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Greystone Boulevard
4
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 176 / Broad River Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 176 / Broad River Road
Navigation decision point
4
6.3 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Whiteford Road
Turn right onto Whiteford Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$0.99 one way
$1.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.08 | $2.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.17 | $2.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.39 | $2.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| Efficient EV | 1.6 | 0 | $0.55 | $0.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.88 | $0.40 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Saint Andrews, SC
Afternoon in Saint Andrews on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°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
39 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
12m 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 6.3-mile route. With only 22% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on city streets and local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.2 miles on Broad River Road, so be prepared for frequent adjustments and intersections. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaged driving experience that requires your attention as you navigate through various local traffic patterns.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.2 mi on Broad River Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 6.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbia, SC to Saint Andrews, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Riverbanks Zoo along the way.
Riverbanks Zoo
3 mi in
|
~5m
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
This is an easy same-day round trip, clocking in at just 6.3 miles and 12 minutes. You'll barely need to leave town for this quick excursion.
Family Friendly
With only 12 minutes of driving and minimal highway use, this route is short enough for families with young children. The turn-heavy nature might require a co-pilot navigator, but it's easily manageable.
Solo Traveler
At a mere 6.3 miles and 12 minutes, this route is incredibly comfortable for a solo traveler looking for a very short drive. You'll be back before you know it.
EV Driver
This 6.3-mile drive is well within the range of any EV on a single charge, so you won't need to worry about finding a charger. Given the minimal distance, it's a perfect, stress-free option.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.2 miles on Broad River 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 1.1 miles (US 21; US 76; US 176; US 321 / Elmwood Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Saint Andrews, 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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