Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
55.4 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaston, SC
Daniel Sell
Sumter, SC
Junior Bastos
Gaston, SC to Sumter, SC is 55.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via Garners Ferry Road and Highway 321, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, making it a straightforward local trip. Expect a route with frequent turns and a mix of road types as you make your way across the Southeast region. It’s a manageable distance, perfect for a day trip without feeling rushed.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Garners Ferry Road | 34.6 mi | 43m |
| William Earle Berne Beltway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Highway 321 | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Broad Street | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| Veterans Memorial Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Charleston Highway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Washington Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gaston, SC and Sumter, SC.
Start on US 321
Continue on US 321
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
Take the exit
Continue on I 77
Continue on I 77
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto US 76; US 378
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business
Continue on US 76 Business
Turn left onto US 76 Business
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Gaston, 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 8.2 and 51.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward US 76, US 378, SC 262: Garners Ferry Road, Leesburg Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 76, US 378: Garners Ferry Road, Sumter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto US 76; US 378 / Garners Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business / Broad Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$8.66 one way
$17.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.47 | $18.95 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.25 | $20.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.23 | $24.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.82 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.85 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Morning in Gaston on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
Destination
Morning in Sumter on Tuesday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 route is characterized by a high number of turns, suggesting a local driving experience rather than an open highway cruise. With only 14% of the drive on highways, you’ll mostly navigate local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 34.6 miles on Garners Ferry Road. Be prepared for the road to change character as you proceed, transitioning between more developed areas and potentially more rural settings.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in.
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 55.4 miles you will encounter 6 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 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gaston, SC to Sumter, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
Charlotte
Sumter is a city in Santee Cooper Country, South Carolina.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 55.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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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