If you are planning to travel from Saint Andrews to Summerville, you can expect a straightforward 95.8-mile journey through the Southeast. The drive typically takes about 1 hour and 47 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily rely on I-26, supplemented by North Main Street and Saint Andrews Road for your local navigation. Budgeting roughly $15 for fuel should cover your transit costs between these two South Carolina locations. Because the route is compact and efficient, it works perfectly for travelers looking to get from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.9 miles from Saint Andrews, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
92.3 mi
1h 41m
North Main Street
2 mi
3m
Saint Andrews Road
0.8 mi
1m
Broad River Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Whiteford Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Richardson Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 92.3 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Andrews, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on Whiteford Road
276 ft·14 sec·Whiteford Road
2
Turn right onto US 176
0.1 mi·17 sec·Broad River Road
3
Turn left onto Saint Andrews Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Saint Andrews Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 26 East: Columbia
5
Merge onto I 26; US 76
1.4 mi·1 min·I 26; US 76
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
91 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 199AToward US 17 Alternate South: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·5 sec·East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right
92 ft·6 sec
11
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of total schedule flexibility, but aiming to leave outside of peak traffic hours will help you maintain that estimated 1 hour and 47 minute duration. Because the route features zero planned stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you hit the main highway segments to avoid unnecessary detours. Given the heavy 92.3-mile stretch on I-26, keep a close eye on interstate traffic reports as you head toward Summerville. Use the simplicity of this direct route to your advantage by planning your arrival time precisely, as you won't need to account for time-consuming roadside diversions.
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 47.9 miles from Saint Andrews, SC, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.3 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.9 miles or 53m 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 27m
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 Saint Andrews, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Saint Andrews, SC
This is one driving day of about 95.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Saint Andrews, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 92.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 95.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 176 / Broad River Road
Turn right onto US 176 / Broad River Road
Navigation decision point
7
2.6 mi into trip|~4m 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
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.98 one way
$29.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.38
$32.76
premium
$4.70
$17.73
$35.46
diesel
$5.61
$21.15
$42.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.06
$4.60
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.38
$3.83
EV Truck/SUV
38.3
0
$13.41
$6.13
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Saint Andrews, SC
Late night
in Saint Andrews on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, SC
Late night
in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookdale, SC
48 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
2 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 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route consisting of major roadways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-26, which accounts for a 92.3-mile stretch of the journey. Expect a consistent pace as you transition from the local arterial roads of Saint Andrews onto the interstate system. While the drive lacks the technical challenges of winding backroads, the heavy reliance on the highway ensures a predictable experience behind the wheel. It is a functional, direct path that prioritizes speed and efficiency over secondary exploration.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 92.3 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 around 0.1 miles in near US 176 / Broad River Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 176 / Broad River Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 95.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 92.3 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: at 0.1 miles (US 176 / Broad River Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 93.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Summerville, SC before heading back.
