How far is Columbia, SC from Williston, SC?

The driving distance from Columbia, SC to Williston, SC is about 52.8 miles (85 km), with a travel time of about 01h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 46.9 miles (75.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
52.85 mi
01h 19m
Flight
46.88 mi
75.45 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
46.88 mi
Kilometers
75.45 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
52.85 mi
Kilometers
85.05 km
Drive Time
01h 19m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Williston
Thu, Apr 23, 6:26 AM EDT
Return by in Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 7:45 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbia
2026-04-23T05:07
Arrive Williston
Thu, Apr 23, 6:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:19 AM to 11:19 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:52 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbia
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Woodford
SC

Town in South Carolina, USA

From Columbia
26.5 mi
00h 39m
To Williston
26.4 mi
00h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
89°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph W
Destination
88°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbia and Williston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbia and Williston.

  1. 1

    Start on Gervais Street

    132 m · 18 sec · Gervais Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Gervais Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Gervais Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Meeting Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Meeting Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Charleston Highway

    1964 ft · 40 sec · Charleston Highway

  5. 5

    Turn right onto D Avenue

    91 m · 7 sec · D Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Platt Springs Road

    1.6 km · 2 min · Platt Springs Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Williams Street

    2789 ft · 2 min · Williams Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Charleston Highway

    5.6 mi · 7 min · Charleston Highway

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto Highway 321

    4.8 mi · 6 min · Highway 321

  10. 10

    Continue on North Main Street

    2.1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Southbound Road

    4.1 mi · 6 min · Southbound Road

  12. 12

    Continue on North Church Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · North Church Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Savannah Highway

    1306 ft · 18 sec · Savannah Highway

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Whetstone Road

    11.5 mi · 16 min · Whetstone Road

  15. 15

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    46 m · 2 sec

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout

    1.2 km · 1 min

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    40 m · 3 sec

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout

    6 mi · 8 min

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Springfield Road

    3.7 mi · 7 min · Springfield Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Highway 39

    6.9 mi · 12 min · Highway 39

  21. 21

    Continue on Springfield Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Springfield Road

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Elko Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbia and Williston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
22 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
0 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
41.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Whetstone Road
18.3 mi · 35%
Highway 39
6.85 mi · 13%
Charleston Highway
5.92 mi · 11%
Springfield Road
5.14 mi · 10%
Highway 321
4.84 mi · 9%
Southbound Road
4.15 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

Whetstone Road

Turn right onto Whetstone Road

11.5 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 19m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+5.9 mi
46.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Woodford
00h 39m from Columbia
Leave By
3:52 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbia and Sunny near Williston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbia to Williston?

The road trip is about 52.8 miles (85 km) and usually takes 01h 19m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Woodford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 26.5 miles from Columbia and 26.4 miles from Williston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 46.9 miles (75.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 5.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:52 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.41 one way or $14.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 16.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbia and Sunny near Williston.

Stop Ideas Near Woodford

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Woodford, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Woodford.

RAIL

Columbia

37 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Denmark

38 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Camden

78 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Yemassee

112 mi away
9 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbia and Williston. Straight-line distance: 46.88 mi (75.45 km).

Columbia

#1 Columbia

The most populous city in South Carolina.

Population132,130
Coordinates34.0007100, -81.0348100
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Williston

#2 Williston

Town in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States

Population2,912
Coordinates33.4026500, -81.4201100
Altitude108
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbia (-81.03481, 34.00071)
End: Williston (-81.42011, 33.40265)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 85 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.87 gal
7.06 L · about $7.41
Round trip
$14.81
3.74 gal · 14.12 L
Estimated CO2
16.6 kg one way
Round trip: 33.2 kg / 73 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $7.41 $14.81
Mid-grade $4.43 $8.28 $16.56
Premium $4.78 $8.93 $17.87
Diesel $5.62 $10.52 $21.03

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in South Carolina · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbia and Williston. The current time is 05:07:37.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.