Origin
New Ellenton, SC
Afternoon in New Ellenton on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Ellenton, SC to Columbia, 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 24m
Distance
64 mi
103 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Ellenton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
This 65.7-mile drive from New Ellenton, SC, to Columbia, SC, is a straightforward 1 hour and 12 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, and the estimated fuel cost is a modest $11. Given its short distance and turn-heavy nature, it's best tackled in a single go rather than splitting it over multiple days. This journey stays within the Southeast region, offering a convenient connection between these two South Carolina locales. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B without extensive travel time.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 34.8 mi | 38m |
| Whiskey Road | 9 mi | 16m |
| Augusta Road | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Columbia Highway North | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Jarvis Klapman Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| York Street Northeast | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street North | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Gervais Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 34.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Ellenton, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on SC 19
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street North
2
Continue on SC 19
9.0 mi
·
16 min
·
Whiskey Road
3
Continue on SC 19
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Chesterfield Street South
4
Turn right onto US 1; US 78
357 ft
·
8 sec
·
Richland Avenue East
5
Turn left onto US 1
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
York Street Northeast
6
Continue on US 1
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Columbia Highway North
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
8
Merge onto I 20
35 mi
·
38 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 58
Toward US 1: Columbia Airport, West Columbia, Lexington
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 1
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Augusta Road
11
Continue on US 1
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Augusta Road
12
Turn straight onto SC 12
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
13
Continue on SC 12
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Hampton Street
14
Turn right onto Williams Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Williams Street
15
Turn right onto US 21; US 176; US 321
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Huger Street
16
Turn left onto Gervais Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32 miles from New Ellenton, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 10.1 and 63.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
10.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East
Turn right onto US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East
Navigation decision point
5
18.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Columbia Airport, West Columbia, Lexington
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 58
Toward US 1: Columbia Airport, West Columbia, L...
5
63.2 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
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Gervais Street
Turn left onto Gervais Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.01 one way
$20.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.94 | $21.89 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.85 | $23.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.13 | $28.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.10 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Columbia, SC
Afternoon in Columbia on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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 warmer 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, covering 65.7 miles in just over an hour. With 0% highway share, you'll be on surface streets for the entire duration. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving to note, as the journey involves frequent turns and transitions between local roads like Whiskey Road, Chesterfield Street South, and Richland Avenue East. The character remains consistent throughout, focusing on navigating through local areas rather than open highway cruising. This means paying attention to your navigation and local traffic patterns.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.8 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 24m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles (US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 New Ellenton, SC to Columbia, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Lexington along the way.
Lexington
53.5 mi in
|
~1h 8m
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: 64 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 (54%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.8 miles on I 20. 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 10.1 miles (US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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