If you are planning a trip from Five Forks to Columbia, you are looking at a straightforward 94.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 53 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to reach your destination comfortably. With a fuel budget of approximately $15, it remains an economical choice for travelers moving through the Southeast. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, making this a highly efficient transit between these two South Carolina points. Because the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows without worrying about complex travel logistics.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Five Forks, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
55.8 mi
1h 1m
SC 14
21.2 mi
22m
Scuffletown Road
7 mi
12m
I 126
3.4 mi
4m
State Highway 418
2 mi
3m
South Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
Laurens Road
0.9 mi
1m
Huger Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 55.8 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Five Forks, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on this road
264 ft·22 sec·this road
2
At end of road, turn right onto Scuffletown Road
7.0 mi·12 min·Scuffletown Road
3
Turn right onto SC 418
2.0 mi·3 min·State Highway 418
4
Continue on Gulliver Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Gulliver Street
5
Continue on SC 418
0.4 mi·37 sec·Knight Street
6
Turn left onto SC 14
1.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
7
Continue on SC 14
0.9 mi·1 min·Laurens Road
8
Take the ramp onto SC 14
21 mi·22 min·SC 14
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 26
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76
3.4 mi·4 min·I 126; US 76
Toward I 126, US 76: ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Huger StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
0.7 mi·1 min·Huger Street
13
Turn left onto Gervais Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you don't need to stress about extensive rest stops or rigid pacing. You can easily complete the entire 94.2-mile stretch in one go, as the route is designed for direct transit rather than frequent breaks. To make your trip as smooth as possible, aim to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours on I-26, which can impact your travel duration. Keep your $15 fuel estimate in mind, but remember to fuel up before hitting the interstate to avoid premium station prices along the highway. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to focus on arriving in Columbia refreshed and ready for your next set of plans.
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 47.1 miles from Five Forks, SC, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.8 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 58m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Five Forks, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Five Forks, SC
This is one driving day of about 94.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Five Forks, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 55.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Scuffletown Road
At end of road, turn right onto Scuffletown Road
Navigation decision point
4
12.2 mi into trip|~21m in|SC 14
Take the ramp onto SC 14
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
33.4 mi into trip|~43m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
89.2 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|I 126; US 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76 toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
6
92.6 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Huger Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Huger Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.73 one way
$29.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.11
$32.21
premium
$4.70
$17.43
$34.87
diesel
$5.61
$20.80
$41.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.89
$4.52
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.24
$3.77
EV Truck/SUV
37.7
0
$13.19
$6.03
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Five Forks, SC
Late night
in Five Forks on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, SC
Late night
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
36 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 53m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 87% of this drive is spent on high-speed roads. Your journey relies heavily on I-26, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 55.8 miles. While you start by navigating local connectors like SC 14 and Scuffletown Road, the transition to the interstate defines the character of the trip. Once you merge onto I-26, the pace picks up significantly, offering a consistent driving environment for the bulk of your travel time. It is a no-nonsense commute that favors steady progress over winding backroads, keeping you moving efficiently until you reach the Columbia area.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.8 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and SC 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Scuffletown Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Scuffletown Road): Navigation decision point; at 12.2 miles (SC 14): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 55.8 miles on I 26. 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 0.1 miles (Scuffletown Road): Navigation decision point; at 12.2 miles (SC 14): Lane positioning matters here; at 33.4 miles (I 26): 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 Columbia, SC before heading back.
