Origin
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Union, 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 32m
Distance
70.5 mi
114 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 45m
8 PM
1h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, SC
Sebastián Casimiro
Trip Overview
Columbia, SC to Union, SC is 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 32m via I 20 and Kershaw Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in South Carolina. You'll encounter a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for a relatively short and efficient connection between these two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.3 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 | 18.5 mi | 21m |
| Kershaw Highway | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Kershaw Camden Highway | 8.9 mi | 10m |
| Rocky River Road | 7.7 mi | 13m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Highway 601 South | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Springdale Drive | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 18.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Union, 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
19 mi
·
21 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 92
Toward US 601: Lugoff, Camden
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
479 ft
·
11 sec
Exit 92
Toward US 601 North: Lugoff, Camden
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto US 601
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 601 South
9
Turn straight onto US 1; US 601
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
10
Continue on US 1; US 601; SC 34
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West DeKalb Street
11
Turn left onto US 521 Truck; US 601 Truck
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Springdale Drive
12
Continue on US 521 Truck; US 601 Truck
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Boykin Road
13
Turn left onto US 521; US 601
272 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Broad Street
14
Continue on US 521; US 601
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Kershaw Highway
15
Continue on US 521; US 601
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
16
Continue on US 521; US 601
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Hampton Street
17
Turn left onto US 521; US 601
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Matson Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto US 521 Business
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
19
Continue on US 521
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
Spring Street
20
Turn right onto US 521
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
21
Continue on US 521; SC 522
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
22
Turn slight right onto SC 522
7.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Rocky River Road
23
Enter roundabout
196 ft
·
3 sec
24
Continue
26 ft
·
0 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 1.5 hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can leave anytime in the morning and still have ample daylight for the drive. The fuel cost is estimated at $11, so plan your fill-up accordingly before departing Columbia or find a station along the route. Since it’s a shorter drive with no designated stops, you can decide on the fly if you need a break, perhaps around the halfway point as you transition from I 20 to the surface roads.
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 35.3 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union, 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 70.5 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 18.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.3 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 26.3 — 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.
8
26.1 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward US 601: Lugoff, Camden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 92
Toward US 601: Lugoff, Camden
10
26.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 601 North: Lugoff, Camden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Exit 92
Toward US 601 North: Lugoff, Camden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.02 one way
$22.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.05 | $24.11 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.57 | $31.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.87 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Union, SC
Morning in Union on Tuesday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Camden, SC
35 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
28 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 32m 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?
This 70.5-mile route features 37% highway driving. You'll be on I 20 for up to 18.5 miles at a stretch before transitioning to surface roads like Kershaw Highway and Kershaw Camden Highway. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway travel and more typical surface street speeds as you approach your destination. The change from freeway to local roads will be noticeable as you cover the last portion of this drive.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.5 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 76 / Bull Street.
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 70.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 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.
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 Union, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Camden along the way.
Camden
26.1 mi in
|
~32m
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.5 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union, 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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