Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Sumter, SC to Beaufort, 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
2h 27m
Distance
126.5 mi
204 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 17m
★
6 AM
2h 27m
8 AM
2h 47m
10 AM
2h 34m
12 PM
2h 32m
3 PM
2h 35m
5 PM
2h 46m
8 PM
2h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sumter, SC
Junior Bastos
Beaufort, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sumter, SC to Beaufort, SC is 126.5 miles and takes about 2h 27m via I 95 and Trask Parkway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that makes for an easy one-day excursion. You'll find the route is primarily on major highways, making for efficient travel time. Consider this if you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two South Carolina locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.3 miles from Sumter, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 83.4 mi | 1h 29m |
| Trask Parkway | 18.1 mi | 22m |
| Manning Road | 13.1 mi | 15m |
| US 17 Alt | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Boundary Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| Manning Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Yemassee Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Carteret Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 83.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumter, SC and Beaufort, SC.
1
Start on US 76 Business
65 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Liberty Street
2
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Main Street
3
Continue on Manning Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Manning Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on US 521
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Manning Road
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
6
Merge onto I 95
83 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
9
Turn straight onto SC 68
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Yemassee Highway
10
Turn slight right onto SC 68
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Connelly Street
11
Turn right onto US 17 Alt; US 21
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 17 Alt; US 21
12
Merge onto US 17; US 21
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Trask Parkway
13
Take the exit onto US 21
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 21
14
Merge onto US 21
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Trask Parkway
15
Continue on US 21
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Boundary Street
16
Continue on US 21 Business
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Carteret Street
17
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Port Republic Street
18
Arrive at destination
Port Republic Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 27m drive time, you can comfortably depart Sumter any time in the morning and still reach Beaufort with plenty of daylight. There are no recommended stops, so you have flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $20. The transition from I 95 to Trask Parkway is a key point; ensure you are prepared for that change in road type and speed limit. This relatively short drive allows for a relaxed pace.
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 63.3 miles from Sumter, SC, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 83.4 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.3 miles or 1h 10m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC
This is one driving day of about 126.5 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Sumter, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 83.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.3 miles from Sumter, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 99 — 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
|
South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
15 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
15.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
98.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
6
99 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.78 one way
$39.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $21.63 | $43.26 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.41 | $46.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.93 | $55.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.28 | $6.07 |
| Efficient EV | 31.6 | 0 | $11.07 | $5.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.71 | $8.10 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Sumter, SC
Morning in Sumter on Tuesday
Local time
11:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beaufort, SC
Morning in Beaufort on Tuesday
Local time
11:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Saint George, SC
63 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 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 27m 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 features an 83% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 83.4 miles along I 95. After that, you'll transition to surface roads like Trask Parkway and Manning Road for the remainder of the trip. Expect a change from high-speed cruising to more local traffic as you approach your destination.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 83.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Trask Parkway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Main Street.
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 126.5 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: near the start (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15.4 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Sumter, SC to Beaufort, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Yemassee along the way.
Yemassee
98.8 mi in
|
~1h 48m
About the Cities
Starting in Sumter, SC
Full guide →Sumter is a city in Santee Cooper Country, South Carolina.
Arriving in Beaufort, SC
Full guide →Beaufort is a coastal town in the Low Country of 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 2h 27m. Total distance: 126.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 83.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 15 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 15.4 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 Beaufort, 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.
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