This 172.2-mile drive from Summerville, SC, to Abbeville, SC, will take approximately 3 hours and 43 minutes of pure driving time. It's a straightforward trip, primarily using I 26 and US 378, making it a very manageable one-day journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $28, it's an economical option for exploring within the Southeast region. You'll spend about 71% of your time on highways, so expect a generally efficient pace. This route is ideal if you're looking for a direct and uncomplicated way to get from point A to point B without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.1 miles from Summerville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
87.5 mi
1h 34m
US 378
17.4 mi
25m
Columbia Highway
14.2 mi
21m
Greenwood Highway
10.7 mi
15m
SC 72
9.8 mi
14m
Augusta Road
7 mi
11m
Sivell Road
4.4 mi
6m
State Highway 225
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 87.5 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summerville, SC and Abbeville, SC.
1
Start on this road
92 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft·7 sec·East Richardson Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 17 Alternate
2.2 mi·3 min·North Main Street
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward I-26 West
5
Merge onto I 26
88 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 111AToward US 1 South: LexingtonUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 1
7.0 mi·11 min·Augusta Road
8
Continue on US 1
1.4 mi·3 min·East Main Street
9
Continue on US 1; US 378
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
10
Turn slight right onto US 378
17 mi·25 min·US 378
Use the straight lane.
11
Enter roundabout onto US 378
429 ft·14 sec·Columbia Highway
12
Continue on US 378
14 mi·20 min·Columbia Highway
13
Continue on US 178; SC 39
11 mi·15 min·Greenwood Highway
14
Continue on US 178
2.3 mi·3 min·Highway 178
15
Continue on US 178
0.1 mi·11 sec·Bruce Road
16
Continue on US 178
0.6 mi·49 sec·Bradley Street
17
Continue on US 178
0.3 mi·26 sec·Mosley Road
18
Continue on US 178
0.3 mi·28 sec·Rock House Road
19
Continue on US 178
0.6 mi·56 sec·Scotts Ferry Road
20
Continue on US 178
0.5 mi·41 sec·S-41-98
21
Continue on US 178
2.1 mi·3 min·S-41-227
22
Continue on US 178
0.2 mi·16 sec·Kathy Hill Road
23
Continue on US 178
4.4 mi·6 min·Sivell Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 25; US 178
0.2 mi·15 sec·Warren Road
25
Continue on US 25; US 178
1.6 mi·2 min·Highway 25 South
26
Turn left onto SC 225
0.5 mi·39 sec·Scotch Cross Road West
27
Continue on SC 225
2.6 mi·3 min·State Highway 225
28
Continue on SC 225
1.3 mi·1 min·Lowell Street
29
Continue on SC 225
0.6 mi·52 sec·Nixon Circle
30
Continue on SC 225
0.4 mi·42 sec·Taggart Avenue
31
Continue on SC 225
0.5 mi·50 sec·State Highway 225
32
Turn left onto SC 72 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 72
33
At end of road, turn left onto SC 72
9.8 mi·14 min·SC 72
34
Turn right onto SC 20; SC 203 Truck
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Main Street
35
Continue on SC 20
463 ft·15 sec·Court Square
36
Turn sharp right onto SC 203
102 ft·2 sec·Washington Street
37
Arrive at destination
SC 203
Trip Plan
Given the modest 3-hour and 43-minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and allow for any unexpected delays. With only one recommended stop, plan it strategically for a break and to refuel if necessary, keeping the $28 fuel budget in mind. Pay attention to signage for I 26 and US 378 as you transition between these main roads. The flexibility of a one-day trip means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.1 miles from Summerville, SC, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.5 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 38 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.1 miles or 1h 34m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Abbeville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Summerville, 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 Summerville, SC
This is one driving day of about 172.2 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Summerville, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 87.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 172.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 17 Alternate / North Main Street
Turn right onto US 17 Alternate / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip|~4m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
90.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 111A
Toward US 1 South: Lexington
6
172.2 mi into trip|~3h 43m in|SC 203 / Washington Street
Turn sharp right onto SC 203 / Washington Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.93 one way
$53.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.44
$58.89
premium
$4.70
$31.87
$63.74
diesel
$5.61
$38.02
$76.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.7
0
$18.08
$8.27
Efficient EV
43.1
0
$15.07
$6.89
EV Truck/SUV
68.9
0
$24.11
$11.02
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
Summerville, SC
Late night
in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Abbeville, SC
Late night
in Abbeville on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
13 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
3h 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.
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 71.3
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The majority of this route, 71%, is highway driving, promising a relatively fast-paced journey. You'll experience a substantial 87.5-mile stretch on I 26, which forms the backbone of this trip. While much of the drive is focused on efficient travel, you'll also navigate sections on US 378 and Columbia Highway, offering a slight change of scenery from the interstate. Expect a consistent driving experience with periods of quicker travel interspersed with more local road segments as you approach your destination.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.5 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and US 378. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Richardson Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 43m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Richardson Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 17 Alternate / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 172.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 87.5 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (East Richardson Avenue): Navigation decision point; near the start (US 17 Alternate / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Abbeville, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
