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Trip from Holly Hill, SC to Columbia, SC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

72.5 mi

117 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Holly Hill, SC, SC

Holly Hill, SC

Budget Bizar

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Holly Hill to Columbia, you are looking at a straightforward 72.5-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 24 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, it is a very affordable trek across South Carolina. Since the drive is quite short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. This highway-focused route is designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing, helping you get from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 59.8 mi 1h 4m
Bass Drive 3.4 mi 5m
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard 2.7 mi 3m
Bunch Ford Road 2.6 mi 4m
Old State Road 1.7 mi 2m
Gervais Street 0.6 mi 1m
Augusta Road 0.6 mi <1m
Hampton Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Holly Hill, SC and Columbia, SC.

1

Start on US 176

1.7 mi · 2 min · Old State Road
2

Turn left onto SC 314

2.6 mi · 4 min · Bunch Ford Road
3

Turn straight onto US 15

3.4 mi · 5 min · Bass Drive
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 26 North: Columbia
5

Merge onto I 26

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 111B Toward US 1 North: West Columbia Use the slight right lane.
7

Merge onto US 1

0.6 mi · 42 sec · Augusta Road
8

Turn straight onto SC 12

2.7 mi · 3 min · Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
9

Continue on SC 12

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Hampton Street
10

Turn right onto Williams Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Williams Street
11

Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Huger Street
12

Turn left onto Gervais Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
13

Arrive at destination

Gervais Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Gaston, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gaston, SC

36 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

Brookdale, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Gaston, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from Holly Hill, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 71.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
1.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | SC 314 / Bunch Ford Road

Turn left onto SC 314 / Bunch Ford Road

Navigation decision point

5
7.9 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
67.7 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 1 North: West Columbia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 111B Toward US 1 North: West Columbia
5
71.7 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street

Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321 / Huger Street

Navigation decision point

4
71.8 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | Gervais Street

Turn left onto Gervais Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.34 one way

$22.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $12.40 $24.79
premium $4.70 $13.42 $26.84
diesel $5.61 $16.01 $32.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.8 0 $7.61 $3.48
Efficient EV 18.1 0 $6.34 $2.90
EV Truck/SUV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64

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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Holly Hill, SC

Morning in Holly Hill on Tuesday

Local time

7:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Columbia, SC

Morning in Columbia on Tuesday

Local time

7:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 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 24m 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 drive is defined by its efficiency, with 83% of the journey taking place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-26, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 59.8 miles. The route transitions from local roads like Bass Drive into the interstate, eventually connecting via Jarvis Klapman Boulevard as you approach Columbia. While you won't encounter technical mountain passes or winding backroads, the transition from rural South Carolina to the state capital is smooth and steady. It is a functional, predictable drive that allows you to maintain a consistent pace for the majority of the trip.

83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on I 26.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Bass Drive. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near SC 314 / Bunch Ford Road.

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 72.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.7 miles (SC 314 / Bunch Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving 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 24m. Total distance: 72.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 59.8 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 1.7 miles (SC 314 / Bunch Ford Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbia, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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