If you are planning a trip from Mullins to Columbia, you are looking at a 118.3-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 54 minutes to complete. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the one-way drive. Navigating through the Southeast, the route transitions from the local feel of Mullins into the capital city of Columbia. Since there are no required stops, you have the flexibility to power through the drive in a single sitting. It is an efficient way to cross the state, provided you are prepared for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight interstate cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Mullins, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
67.7 mi
1h 14m
I 95
20 mi
21m
US 501
8.6 mi
9m
SC 38
7.3 mi
8m
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
East Highway 76
4.7 mi
6m
Bull Street
1.6 mi
2m
West McIntyre Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 67.7 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mullins, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on SC 41; SC 917
0.4 mi·1 min·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 76
0.6 mi·52 sec·West McIntyre Street
3
Continue on US 76
4.7 mi·6 min·East Highway 76
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
5
Merge onto US 501
8.6 mi·9 min·US 501
6
Continue on SC 38
7.3 mi·8 min·SC 38
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·57 sec
8
Merge onto I 95
20 mi·21 min·I 95
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 West: Columbia
10
Merge onto I 20
68 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 73 AToward SC 277 South: Downtown, ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto SC 277
4.8 mi·5 min·I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on SC 277
1.6 mi·2 min·Bull Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 1; US 378
0.4 mi·50 sec·Gervais Street
15
Continue on Gervais Street
234 ft·22 sec·Gervais Street
16
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, your best strategy is to leave early enough in the morning to avoid midday traffic congestion. With no mandatory stops built into the 118.3-mile itinerary, you have the freedom to choose exactly when and where you pull over for fuel or a quick stretch. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, as local roads can sometimes be less efficient than sustained highway speeds. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between Highway 76 and I-20 West before you head out. Having your navigation ready for those frequent turns will make the trip much smoother and less stressful as you make your way toward Columbia.
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 59.4 miles from Mullins, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.7 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 9m 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 51m
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 Mullins, 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 Mullins, SC
This is one driving day of about 118.8 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Mullins, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 67.7 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 111.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 76 / West McIntyre Street
Turn right onto US 76 / West McIntyre Street
Navigation decision point
4
42.2 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 20 West: Columbia
5
43.1 mi into trip|~52m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 73 A
Toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
5
111.9 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|SC 277 / I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Merge onto SC 277 / I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.58 one way
$37.16 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.31
$40.63
premium
$4.70
$21.99
$43.97
diesel
$5.61
$26.23
$52.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.47
$5.70
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.40
$4.75
EV Truck/SUV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 14, 2026
Origin
Mullins, SC
Morning
in Mullins on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbia, SC
Morning
in Columbia on Tuesday
Local time
8:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SW 6 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
30 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
2h 17m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 106.5
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 experience on this route, as it relies on local roads like West McIntyre Street and Highway 76 before eventually transitioning onto I-20 West. You will notice that the highway share is 0%, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating local corridors rather than cruising on high-speed interstates. Because the longest stretch on West McIntyre Street is 0 miles, you should stay alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. The drive feels less like a monotonous highway grind and more like an engaged, hands-on navigation through local South Carolina terrain. Be ready for a steady pace that requires your full attention behind the wheel as you navigate the transition from rural roads to the interstate approach.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.7 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 95. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 76 / West McIntyre Street.
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 118.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.4 miles (US 76 / West McIntyre Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 43.1 miles (I 20): 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 118.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.7 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 76 / West McIntyre Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 43.1 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
