Origin
West Columbia, SC
Late night in West Columbia on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Columbia, SC to Florence, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
83.3 mi
134 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Columbia, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
West Columbia, SC to Florence, SC is 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 39m via I 20, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's perfect for a quick hop between cities. Given its short duration, you'll have plenty of time to get on the road and arrive with hours to spare, making it an easy same-day adventure. You won't encounter any overnight needs for this particular journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.6 miles from West Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 70.2 mi | 1h 18m |
| I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Hampton Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Jarvis Klapman Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Bull Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Cheves Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North 12th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 70.2 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Columbia, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on this road
272 ft
·
25 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto SC 35
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
North 12th Street
3
Turn left onto SC 12
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
4
Continue on SC 12
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Hampton Street
5
Turn left onto US 76
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bull Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on SC 277
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 20
70 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
10
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warley Street
11
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cheves Street
12
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
13
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 39m travel time, you have the flexibility to leave West Columbia, SC whenever is most convenient. Aiming for a mid-morning departure can help you avoid potential rush hour traffic on either end of your journey. With only 83.3 miles and a fuel cost around $13, you won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving West Columbia. The longest stretch is 70.2 miles on I 20, so plan any brief breaks before or after this segment for maximum efficiency.
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 41.6 miles from West Columbia, SC, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.2 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 18 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.6 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Columbia, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Columbia, SC
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from West Columbia, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 70.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from West Columbia, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 83.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 35 / North 12th Street
Turn left onto SC 35 / North 12th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 12 / Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
Turn left onto SC 12 / Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
Navigation decision point
6
9.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
83.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.03 one way
$26.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.24 | $28.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.42 | $30.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.39 | $36.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25 | 0 | $8.75 | $4.00 |
| Efficient EV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.29 | $3.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.66 | $5.33 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Florence, SC
Late night in Florence on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 8 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
49°F
Camden, SC
42 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
5 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
1h 39m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 14.4
Caution: Burn Ban in Effect 4/17
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 90% of your travel time spent on major interstates like I 20 and the I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 70.2 miles on I 20, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is interstate cruising, the final portion may involve local roads like West Evans Street as you approach your destination. Expect a smooth, efficient journey with minimal slowdowns on this largely highway-centric path.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.2 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SC 35 / North 12th Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m drive. You will face about 10 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 (SC 35 / North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SC 12 / Jarvis Klapman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 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 39m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.2 miles on I 20. 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 (SC 35 / North 12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SC 12 / Jarvis Klapman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — 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 Florence, 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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