Origin
New Ellenton, SC
Morning in New Ellenton on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Ellenton, 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
2h 28m
Distance
115.3 mi
186 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m
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
Summerville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
New Ellenton, SC to Summerville, SC is 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 28m via I 26 and Heritage Highway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a mixed drive with a significant portion on the interstate, offering a fairly straightforward journey. It's a manageable day trip, making it ideal if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.7 miles from New Ellenton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 44.3 mi | 47m |
| Bamberg Road | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Heritage Highway | 11.2 mi | 16m |
| Williston Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Highway 78 | 7.2 mi | 11m |
| Five Chop Road | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Dexter Street | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Tinker Creek Road | 3.6 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 44.3 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Ellenton, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on SC 19
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street North
2
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 19
247 ft
·
9 sec
·
Main Street South
3
Turn left onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Williston Road
4
Turn left onto SC 781
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Tinker Creek Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 78
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Charleston Highway
6
Continue on US 78; SC 39
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
7
Continue on US 78
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 78
8
Continue on US 78
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Dexter Street
9
Continue on US 78
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 78
10
Continue on US 78
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Heritage Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto US 301; US 601
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Highway
12
Continue on US 301; US 601
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Bamberg Road
13
Continue on US 301; US 601; SC 4
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Edisto Drive
14
Continue on US 301; US 601; SC 4
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
John C Calhoun Drive
15
Turn right onto US 301
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Five Chop Road
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
17
Merge onto I 26
44 mi
·
47 min
·
I 26
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right
92 ft
·
6 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 28m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 115.3-mile journey. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is full before you set off, especially before heading onto the 44.3-mile stretch on I-26 where services might be spaced out. While there are no designated stops mentioned, factor in a brief break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point, to stay refreshed on this mixed 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 57.7 miles from New Ellenton, SC, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.3 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
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 New Ellenton, 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 New Ellenton, SC
This is one driving day of about 115.3 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from New Ellenton, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 44.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.7 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 115.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
SC 19 / Main Street South
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 19 / Main Street South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
15 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 78 / Charleston Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 78 / Charleston Highway
Navigation decision point
4
42.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
US 301; US 601 / Main Highway
Turn left onto US 301; US 601 / Main Highway
Navigation decision point
7
113 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m 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
115.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.03 one way
$36.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.71 | $39.43 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.34 | $42.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.46 | $50.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.11 | $5.53 |
| Efficient EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.1 | 0 | $16.14 | $7.38 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Summerville, SC
Morning in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live 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
38 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 28m 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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 63.6
Caution: Burn Ban in Effect 4/17
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
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 115.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 45% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good chunk of time on I-26. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 44.3 miles on I-26, so be prepared for a period of consistent highway driving. The route also incorporates Bamberg Road and Heritage Highway, suggesting a transition from faster-paced interstate travel to more local or regional roads. This mixed profile means you'll experience both the efficiency of the interstate and potentially more varied scenery or traffic patterns as you approach your destination.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.3 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near SC 19 / Main Street South.
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 115.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 2 miles (SC 19 / Main Street South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15 miles (US 78 / Charleston Highway): Navigation decision point; at 42.4 miles (US 301; US 601 / Main Highway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 115.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.3 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (SC 19 / Main Street South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15 miles (US 78 / Charleston Highway): Navigation decision point; at 42.4 miles (US 301; US 601 / Main Highway): Navigation decision point.
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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