How far is North Charleston, SC from Sumter, SC?

The driving distance from North Charleston, SC to Sumter, SC is about 99.9 miles (160.7 km), with a travel time of about 01h 32m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 76.6 miles (123.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 05m 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
99.84 mi
01h 32m
Flight
76.62 mi
123.31 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from North Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
76.62 mi
Kilometers
123.31 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
99.84 mi
Kilometers
160.67 km
Drive Time
01h 32m

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 32m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sumter
Sat, Apr 18, 2:26 AM EDT
Return by in North Charleston
Sat, Apr 18, 3:59 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave North Charleston
2026-04-18T00:53
Arrive Sumter
Sat, Apr 18, 2:26 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 32m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:33 AM to 11:33 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:24 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in North Charleston
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
Holly Hill
SC

City in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States of America

From North Charleston
49.7 mi
00h 46m
To Sumter
50.1 mi
00h 46m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
88°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph S
Destination
93°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between North Charleston and Sumter.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston and Sumter.

  1. 1

    Start on Rivers Avenue

    1501 ft · 38 sec · Rivers Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Dorchester Road

    1 km · 1 min · Dorchester Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I 26 West: Columbia

    1130 ft · 28 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    46.3 mi · 52 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 North: Florence

    1.3 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    35.4 mi · 38 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter

    1660 ft · 41 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

    88 m · 7 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left

    15.1 mi · 19 min

  10. 10

    Continue on South Main Street

    1633 ft · 39 sec · South Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Liberty Street

    20 m · 1 sec · East Liberty Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Liberty Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between North Charleston and Sumter.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
12 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 26 West
46.5 mi · 47%
I 95 North
36.3 mi · 36%
Dorchester Road
0.64 mi · 1%
US 521
0.31 mi
South Main Street
0.31 mi
Rivers Avenue
0.28 mi
Longest Stretch

I 26 West

Merge slight left

46.3 mi · 00h 52m

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 32m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 06m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.3 mi
76.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Holly Hill
00h 46m from North Charleston
Leave By
3:24 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving North Charleston and Sunny near Sumter.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from North Charleston to Sumter?

The road trip is about 99.9 miles (160.7 km) and usually takes 01h 32m 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?

Holly Hill is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49.7 miles from North Charleston and 50.1 miles from Sumter.

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

The direct path is about 76.6 miles (123.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.3 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 3:24 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.94 one way or $27.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around North Charleston and Sunny near Sumter.

Stop Ideas Near Holly Hill

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

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

RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

63 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue
RAIL

Kingstree

66 mi away
101 East Main St.
RAIL

Denmark

68 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Yemassee

81 mi away
9 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between North Charleston and Sumter. Straight-line distance: 76.62 mi (123.31 km).

North Charleston

#1 North Charleston

The second most populous city in Charleston County, South Carolina.

Population118,752
Coordinates32.8546200, -79.9748100
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Sumter

#2 Sumter

City in and county seat of Sumter County, South Carolina, United States

Population39,439
Coordinates33.9204400, -80.3414700
Altitude52
CountryUnited States
Start: US 52 (-79.97488, 32.854524)
End: East Liberty Street (-80.341474, 33.920409)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 161 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.52 gal
13.34 L · about $13.94
Round trip
$27.89
7.04 gal · 26.68 L
Estimated CO2
31.3 kg one way
Round trip: 62.6 kg / 138 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $13.94 $27.89
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.59 $31.18
Premium $4.78 $16.82 $33.64
Diesel $5.62 $19.80 $39.59

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between North Charleston and Sumter. The current time is 00:53:59.

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.