Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 16m
Distance
63.8 mi
103 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eureka Mill, SC
Ryan Klaus
Columbia, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Eureka Mill to Columbia is 63.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 16 minutes via I 77 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, this route is best suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward drive.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 77 | 43.1 mi | 46m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Old Richburg Road | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Lancaster Highway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Bull Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| J A Cochran (Bypass) | 1 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Saluda Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,223 veh/hr typical · worst 2,879
Quietest
2 AM
~234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Eureka Mill, SC and Columbia, SC.
Start on 5th Street
At end of road, turn right onto 2nd Street
Turn right onto Saluda Road
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto SC 121
Turn left onto SC 9
Turn right onto Old Richburg Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 77
Continue on I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 277
Continue on SC 277
Turn right onto US 1; US 378
Continue on Gervais Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Eureka Mill, 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 0.2 and 54.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Saluda Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto SC 9 / Lancaster Highway
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 277 / I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway toward SC 277: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$9.78 one way
$19.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $10.73 | $21.46 |
| premium | $4.64 | $11.65 | $23.29 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $14.06 | $28.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.70 | $3.06 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.58 | $2.55 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.93 | $4.08 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Eureka Mill on Saturday
Local time
2:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
2:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Patchy Fog then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
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 drive is mostly highway, with 79% of the 63.8 miles on interstates like I 77 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. You'll encounter a long stretch of 43.1 miles on I 77 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits typical of interstate travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near 2nd Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 16m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Saluda Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (SC 9 / Lancaster Highway): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
244 ft
Total Descent
477 ft
Highest Point
530 ft
~12.9 mi in
Elevation Range
238 ft
Founded 1787
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 63.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Eureka Mill, SC or browse trips ending in Columbia, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
