Origin
Ridgeville, SC
Afternoon in Ridgeville on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ridgeville, SC to Sumter, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
73.8 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ridgeville, SC
Mark Stebnicki
Sumter, SC
Junior Bastos
Trip Overview
Ridgeville, SC to Sumter, SC is 73.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via I 95, I 26, and US 521, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically South Carolina, making it a straightforward journey. It's a short, highway-focused drive, ideal for a quick transition between locations without requiring an overnight stay. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect efficient travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 35.4 mi | 37m |
| I 26 | 18 mi | 19m |
| US 521 | 15.1 mi | 18m |
| Ridgeville Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| US 78 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Railroad Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 35.4 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgeville, SC and Sumter, SC.
1
Start on North Railroad Avenue
452 ft
·
25 sec
·
North Railroad Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto SC 27
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
·
Church Street
3
Continue on SC 27
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Ridgeville Road
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 78
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 78
5
Turn right onto SC 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Ridgeville Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
7
Merge onto I 26
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 26
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
9
Merge onto I 95
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
11
Keep slight left at fork
289 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
12
Turn left onto US 521
15 mi
·
18 min
·
US 521
13
Continue on South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Main Street
14
Turn right onto US 76 Business
65 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Liberty Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 76 Business
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.9 miles from Ridgeville, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 58.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 26 West: Columbia
Navigation decision point
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5
21.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
5
22.6 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
6
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.54 one way
$23.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.62 | $25.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.66 | $27.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.29 | $32.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.75 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.46 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.33 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Sumter, SC
Afternoon in Sumter on Tuesday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
3 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 26m 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 route is heavily highway-focused, with 93% of the drive taking place on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 35.4 miles on I 95, offering a consistent, high-speed driving experience. The roads are primarily interstate, meaning you'll be on well-maintained, multi-lane highways for the majority of the trip. The character of the drive is one of efficient transit, with minimal slowdowns until you transition to US 521 closer to your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
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 73.8 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 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Sumter, SC
Full guide →Sumter is a city in Santee Cooper Country, South Carolina.
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 26m. Total distance: 73.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on I 95. 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 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 21.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 22.6 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sumter, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sumter, SC
More trips to Sumter, SC
Explore more options from Ridgeville, SC or browse trips ending in Sumter, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.