Planning a trip from Forestbrook to Columbia, South Carolina? This 134.8-mile drive will take you about 3 hours and 1 minute, making it a very manageable one-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate using Broad Street and East Myrtle Beach Highway before transitioning to Highway 378. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, this journey through the Southeast region is an economical option. The route's 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests a more engaging experience than a simple interstate cruise, with one recommended stop along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
67.4 miles from Forestbrook, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Broad Street
36.2 mi
45m
East Myrtle Beach Highway
36.1 mi
43m
Highway 378
22.9 mi
32m
Myrtle Beach Highway
13 mi
16m
Robert E Graham Freeway
6.4 mi
7m
US 501
5.1 mi
7m
Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Highway 501 East
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Broad Street
— 36.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forestbrook, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on Brookline Drive
336 ft·19 sec·Brookline Drive
2
Turn left onto Canna Trail
193 ft·8 sec·Canna Trail
3
Turn left onto Bellis Drive
0.1 mi·32 sec·Bellis Drive
4
At end of road, turn right onto S-26-137
1.0 mi·2 min·Forestbrook Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 501 North: Carolina Forest, Conway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward US 501 North, SC 31 South: Conway:Georgetown
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
8
Merge onto US 501
5.1 mi·7 min·US 501
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·Highway 501 East
10
Continue on US 501
1.5 mi·2 min·Church Street
11
Turn left onto US 378
1.1 mi·2 min·Wright Boulevard
12
Continue on US 378
23 mi·32 min·Highway 378
13
Continue on US 378
36 mi·43 min·East Myrtle Beach Highway
14
Continue on US 301; US 378
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
15
Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi·4 min·Clarence Coker Highway
16
Continue on US 378
13 mi·16 min·Myrtle Beach Highway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 378
6.4 mi·7 min·Robert E Graham Freeway
18
Merge onto US 76; US 378
36 mi·45 min·Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 76; US 378
0.2 mi·31 sec·Devine Street
20
Continue on US 76; US 378
1.1 mi·2 min·Devine Street
21
Turn slight right onto US 76; US 378
1.4 mi·3 min·Millwood Avenue
22
Turn left onto US 1; US 76; US 378
1.3 mi·3 min·Gervais Street
23
Continue on Gervais Street
234 ft·22 sec·Gervais Street
24
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, starting your journey from Forestbrook in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. Plan for one stop to break up the 134.8 miles, perhaps around the 36.2-mile mark on Broad Street. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between Broad Street, East Myrtle Beach Highway, and Highway 378, as the numerous turns can be demanding. With a fuel cost around $21, it's an affordable trip, but ensure you have enough gas before departing, as services might be less frequent on some local road segments.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.4 miles from Forestbrook, SC, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 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 30 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
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 Forestbrook, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forestbrook, SC
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Forestbrook, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Broad Street for about 36.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 94.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Canna Trail
Turn left onto Canna Trail
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|S-26-137 / Forestbrook Road
At end of road, turn right onto S-26-137 / Forestbrook Road
Navigation decision point
6
1.6 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 501 North, SC 31 South: Conway:Georgetown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 501 North, SC 31 South: Conway:George...
5
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|US 501
Merge onto US 501
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
94.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 76; US 378 / Broad Street
Merge onto US 76; US 378 / Broad Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.08 one way
$42.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.05
$46.10
premium
$4.70
$24.95
$49.90
diesel
$5.61
$29.76
$59.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.80
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Forestbrook, SC
Late night
in Forestbrook on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Columbia, SC
Late night
in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive 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
6 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
3h 1m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Congaree National Park
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 116.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this 134.8-mile route. While only 27% of the journey involves highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 36.2 miles on Broad Street. This suggests a dynamic driving experience with frequent changes in direction and speed, moving away from monotonous highway cruising. The profile indicates you'll be engaging with local roads for a significant portion of the 3-hour trip, offering a more connected feel to the South Carolina landscape rather than a blur of interstate miles.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.2 mi on Broad Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Canna Trail.
Driving Effort6/10
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 134.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.1 miles (Canna Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (S-26-137 / Forestbrook Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 134.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.2 miles on Broad Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Columbia, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Canna Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (S-26-137 / Forestbrook Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbia, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
