How far is Cowpens, SC from Summerville, SC?

The driving distance from Cowpens, SC to Summerville, SC is about 197.2 miles (317.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.6 miles (268.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 08m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
197.19 mi
03h 04m
Flight
166.6 mi
268.12 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cowpens.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.6 mi
Kilometers
268.12 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
197.19 mi
Kilometers
317.34 km
Drive Time
03h 04m

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 03h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Summerville
Sun, Apr 19, 10:02 AM EDT
Return by in Cowpens
Sun, Apr 19, 1:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cowpens
2026-04-19T06:58
Arrive Summerville
Sun, Apr 19, 10:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:52 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cowpens
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Irmo
SC

Town

From Cowpens
99 mi
01h 32m
To Summerville
98.2 mi
01h 32m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Sunday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph WNW
Destination
85°F
Sunday

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cowpens and Summerville.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cowpens and Summerville.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    13 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Church Street

    32 m · 7 sec · East Church Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Main Street

    1082 ft · 26 sec · North Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Battleground Road

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Battleground Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp left toward I 85 South: Spartanburg

    1314 ft · 32 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    11.9 mi · 13 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East, I 26 West: Columbia, Asheville

    1004 ft · 24 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 26 East: Columbia

    1.3 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    89.4 mi · 1 hr 38 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

    90.9 mi · 1 hr 39 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville

    1450 ft · 35 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto North Main Street

    2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue

    35 m · 5 sec · East Richardson Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right

    28 m · 7 sec

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cowpens and Summerville.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
15 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Charleston
90.9 mi · 46%
I 26 East
90.4 mi · 46%
I 85 South
12.1 mi · 6%
North Main Street
2.2 mi · 1%
Battleground Road
1.93 mi · 1%
US 17 Alternate South
0.27 mi
Longest Stretch

Charleston

Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

90.9 mi · 01h 39m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 04m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.6 mi
166.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Irmo
01h 32m from Cowpens
Leave By
10:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Cowpens and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Summerville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cowpens to Summerville?

The road trip is about 197.2 miles (317.3 km) and usually takes 03h 04m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Irmo is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99 miles from Cowpens and 98.2 miles from Summerville.

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

The direct path is about 166.6 miles (268.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.6 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.57 one way or $55.14 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Cowpens and Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers near Summerville.

Stop Ideas Near Irmo

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Irmo, 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 Irmo.

RAIL

Columbia

17 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Camden

54 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Denmark

85 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Spartanburg

119 mi away
290 Magnolia St

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cowpens and Summerville. Straight-line distance: 166.6 mi (268.12 km).

Cowpens

#1 Cowpens

Town of the United States

Population2,465
Coordinates35.0167900, -81.8039900
Altitude262
CountryUnited States
Summerville

#2 Summerville

Town in South Carolina, United States

Population53,301
Coordinates33.0185000, -80.1756500
Altitude27
CountryUnited States
Start: (-81.80389, 35.016743)
End: East Richardson Avenue (-80.1755, 33.018698)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 317 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.96 gal
26.34 L · about $27.57
Round trip
$55.14
13.92 gal · 52.68 L
Estimated CO2
61.9 kg one way
Round trip: 123.7 kg / 273 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.57 $55.14
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.83 $61.65
Premium $4.78 $33.25 $66.51
Diesel $5.62 $39.14 $78.29

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Cowpens and Summerville. The current time is 06:57:59.

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.