Origin
Irmo, SC
Afternoon in Irmo on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irmo, SC to Summerville, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
99.9 mi
161 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irmo, SC
Junior Bastos
Summerville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 99.9-mile drive from Irmo, SC to Summerville, SC is a straightforward trip through the Southeast, entirely within South Carolina. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 53 minutes on the road, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an economical choice for a quick journey. The vast majority of this route focuses on highway driving, so you'll be covering ground efficiently. This is a practical, no-fuss drive designed to get you from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.9 miles from Irmo, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 96 mi | 1h 45m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| Lake Murray Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Richardson Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Woodrow Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 96 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irmo, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on Woodrow Street
24 ft
·
3 sec
·
Woodrow Street
2
Turn right onto SC 60
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Murray Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 26 East: Columbia
4
Merge onto I 26; US 76
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
91 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
I 26
Toward Charleston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right
92 ft
·
6 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 53-minute duration for this 99.9-mile trip, you have considerable flexibility in when you depart. Leaving Irmo in the morning will allow you to arrive in Summerville with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch is a continuous 96 miles on I 26, plan for minimal planned stops. Keep an eye on your fuel level, as the $16 estimated cost suggests efficient travel, but it's always wise to top off before embarking on such a consolidated highway journey. The minimal stops required mean you can easily make this a single-day trip without needing to split the drive.
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 49.9 miles from Irmo, SC, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.9 miles or 56m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Irmo, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Irmo, SC
This is one driving day of about 99.9 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Irmo, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 96 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.9 miles from Irmo, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 60 / Lake Murray Boulevard
Turn right onto SC 60 / Lake Murray Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 26; US 76
Merge onto I 26; US 76
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
7
97.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
5
99.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.62 one way
$31.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.08 | $34.16 |
| premium | $4.70 | $18.49 | $36.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.06 | $44.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30 | 0 | $10.49 | $4.80 |
| Efficient EV | 25 | 0 | $8.74 | $4.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.39 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Summerville, SC
Afternoon in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookdale, SC
50 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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.
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 31
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 99.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 96 miles on I 26, offering a consistent pace for most of your journey. The primary roads include I 26, North Main Street, and Lake Murray Boulevard, indicating a blend of interstate travel and some local road access as you approach your destination. While largely a highway experience, the shift from interstate to these main local roads will mark the transition as you get closer to Summerville.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and North Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 60 / Lake Murray Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
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: near the start (SC 60 / Lake Murray Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Irmo, SC to Summerville, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
6.6 mi in
|
~9m
|
via I 26
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 99.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96 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: near the start (SC 60 / Lake Murray Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical 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 Summerville, 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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