Origin
Sullivans Island, SC
Morning in Sullivans Island on Sunday
Local time
10:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sullivans Island, 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
43m
Distance
32 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Summerville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sullivans Island, SC to Summerville, SC is 32 miles and takes about 43 minutes via Mark Clark Expressway and I 26, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in South Carolina. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on major highways, making it a convenient option for a quick transition or a day trip extension. You'll likely find it an easy route with minimal fuss, perfect for when you just need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Clark Expressway | 12 mi | 14m |
| I 26 | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| Ben Sawyer Boulevard | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Rivers Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Chuck Dawley Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Myrick Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Rifle Range Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mark Clark Expressway
— 12 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sullivans Island, SC and Summerville, SC.
1
Start on this road
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
57 ft
·
9 sec
3
Turn left onto SC 703
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Station 22 1/2 Street
4
Continue on SC 703
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto SC 703
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Rifle Range Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Rifle Range Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Myrick Road
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Myrick Road
8
Turn right onto I 526 Bus
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Chuck Dawley Boulevard
9
Turn straight onto I 526
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Mark Clark Expressway
Toward North Charleston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 18B
Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Rivers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 26 North: Columbia
14
Merge onto I 26
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Use the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right
92 ft
·
6 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street
Turn left onto SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Rifle Range Road
Turn right onto Rifle Range Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
15.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18B
Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
7
29.5 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.00 one way
$10.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.47 | $10.94 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.92 | $11.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.07 | $14.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.36 | $1.54 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
10:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°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
13 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
43m 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 primarily highway driving, with 74% of the total mileage on major roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 12 miles on the Mark Clark Expressway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you approach Summerville. The dense exit activity on the interstate sections is a notable characteristic of this drive.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12 mi on Mark Clark Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mark Clark Expressway and I 26. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 32 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Rifle Range Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Sullivans Island, SC to Summerville, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
3.9 mi in
|
~6m
|
via I 526
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 32 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12 miles on Mark Clark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Summerville, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (Rifle Range Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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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