Traveling from Sumter to East Gaffney covers 134.7 miles across the Southeast, making for a manageable day trip that typically takes 2 hours and 51 minutes. You will navigate primarily via local roads like North Washington Street, Broad Street, and Camden Highway rather than interstate corridors. Because this route involves zero highway driving, you should expect a slower, more deliberate pace through the South Carolina countryside. Budget approximately $22 for fuel to complete this journey. It is a straightforward trip that fits perfectly into a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for 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
67.3 miles from Sumter, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Kershaw Camden Highway
14.9 mi
16m
Kershaw Highway
14.4 mi
16m
Black Highway
9.6 mi
11m
Sumter Highway
8.4 mi
9m
Camden Highway
8.2 mi
9m
Rock Hill Highway
7.6 mi
11m
Thomas Sumter Highway
7.6 mi
8m
US 521
7.3 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Kershaw Camden Highway
— 14.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumter, SC and East Gaffney, SC.
1
Start on US 76 Business
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Liberty Street
2
Turn right onto US 76 Business
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Washington Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 76 Business
2.8 mi·4 min·Broad Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
5
Continue on US 521
7.6 mi·8 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
6
Continue on US 521
6.2 mi·7 min·Camden Highway
7
Continue on US 521
8.4 mi·9 min·Sumter Highway
8
Continue on US 521
4.2 mi·8 min·Broad Street
9
Continue on US 521; US 601
14 mi·16 min·Kershaw Highway
10
Continue on US 521; US 601
2.7 mi·3 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
11
Continue on US 521; US 601
0.7 mi·48 sec·South Hampton Street
12
Turn left onto US 521; US 601
1.5 mi·1 min·South Matson Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 521 Business
4.8 mi·5 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
14
Continue on US 521
0.8 mi·55 sec·Spring Street
15
Turn right onto US 521
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
16
Continue on US 521; SC 522
7.4 mi·8 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
17
Continue on US 521
4.0 mi·4 min·Lancaster Bypass
18
Take the exit onto US 521
7.3 mi·10 min·US 521
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
20
Continue on SC 5
7.6 mi·11 min·Rock Hill Highway
21
Take the ramp onto SC 5
0.2 mi·33 sec·SC 5
22
Merge onto US 21; SC 5
4.8 mi·5 min·Anderson Road South
23
Continue on this road
473 ft·6 sec·this road
24
Continue on US 21; SC 5
0.8 mi·59 sec·East Main Street
25
Merge onto US 21 Business; SC 5; SC 121
1.8 mi·2 min·Albright Road
26
Turn right onto SC 5
3.4 mi·5 min·South Heckle Boulevard
27
Turn left onto SC 5
2.3 mi·3 min·West Main Street
28
Continue on SC 5
6.5 mi·7 min·York Highway
29
Continue on SC 5
5.3 mi·6 min·Alexander Love Highway
30
Turn right onto SC 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Black Highway
31
Continue on SC 5
1.7 mi·1 min·Kings Creek Drive
32
Continue on SC 5
3.3 mi·3 min·York Road
33
Continue on SC 5
0.7 mi·49 sec·York Highway
34
Continue on SC 5
1.6 mi·1 min·York Road
35
Turn left onto US 29
4.7 mi·7 min·East Cherokee Street
36
Continue on US 29
3.7 mi·5 min·Cherokee Avenue
37
Arrive at destination
US 29
Trip Plan
Planning for this 2-hour and 51-minute drive is simple, but keeping your focus sharp is essential due to the constant turning involved. I recommend scheduling at least one stop to stretch your legs, as the continuous maneuvering can be more tiring than highway driving. Since fuel costs for the trip hover around $22, consider topping off your tank before departing Sumter to avoid hunting for stations along the local backroads. Because this route relies on local streets rather than major freeways, stay alert for unexpected traffic patterns or school zones that might slow your progress. Use the flexibility of this day trip to depart during off-peak hours, which will help you navigate the turn-heavy sections with much less stress.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.3 miles from Sumter, SC, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.9 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.3 miles or 1h 22m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Gaffney, 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 134.7 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Sumter, 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 Kershaw Camden Highway for about 14.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 91.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 76 Business / North Washington Street
Turn right onto US 76 Business / North Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
49.5 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 521; US 601 / South Matson Street
Turn left onto US 521; US 601 / South Matson Street
Navigation decision point
4
51 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|US 521 Business / Kershaw Camden Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 521 Business / Kershaw Camden Highway
Navigation decision point
3
56.6 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 521 / Main Street
Turn right onto US 521 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
91.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|SC 5 / South Heckle Boulevard
Turn right onto SC 5 / South Heckle Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.06 one way
$42.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.03
$46.06
premium
$4.70
$24.93
$49.86
diesel
$5.61
$29.74
$59.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.86
$8.62
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Sumter, SC
Late night
in Sumter on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
East Gaffney, SC
Late night
in East Gaffney on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
26 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
2h 51m 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.
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 134.7
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 9.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since this route utilizes 0% highway travel, you will spend the entire 134.7 miles navigating through local intersections and changing road conditions. The nature of this drive is decidedly technical compared to a standard interstate cruise, as you transition between North Washington Street, Broad Street, and Camden Highway. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches of road, so be prepared for frequent adjustments in speed and direction. It is a practical route for those who prefer local scenery over the monotony of high-speed travel.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.9 mi on Kershaw Camden Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 76 Business / North Washington Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 76 Business / North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.5 miles (US 521; US 601 / South Matson Street): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (US 521 Business / Kershaw Camden Highway): Navigation decision point.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.9 miles on Kershaw Camden Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.2 miles (US 76 Business / North Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 49.5 miles (US 521; US 601 / South Matson Street): Navigation decision point; at 51 miles (US 521 Business / Kershaw Camden Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield and Congaree National 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 East Gaffney, SC before heading back.
