How far is Sumter, SC from Chester, SC?

The driving distance from Sumter, SC to Chester, SC is about 97.4 miles (156.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 01m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 73.6 miles (118.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 03m 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
97.42 mi
02h 01m
Flight
73.61 mi
118.46 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sumter.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
73.61 mi
Kilometers
118.46 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
97.42 mi
Kilometers
156.79 km
Drive Time
02h 01m

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 02h 01m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Chester
Sat, Apr 11, 6:25 AM EDT
Return by in Sumter
Sat, Apr 11, 8:27 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sumter
2026-04-11T04:23
Arrive Chester
Sat, Apr 11, 6:25 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 01m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:02 AM to 12:02 PM EDT

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

Leave by
2:26 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sumter
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
Kershaw
SC

Town in South Carolina

From Sumter
48.7 mi
01h 00m
To Chester
48.7 mi
01h 00m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NW
Destination
85°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sumter and Chester.

  1. 1

    Start on East Liberty Street

    966 ft · 24 sec · East Liberty Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Washington Street

    2268 ft · 44 sec · North Washington Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Broad Street

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Broad Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Camden Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Camden Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Thomas Sumter Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Thomas Sumter Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Camden Highway

    6.2 mi · 7 min · Camden Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Sumter Highway

    8.4 mi · 10 min · Sumter Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Broad Street

    4.2 mi · 9 min · Broad Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Kershaw Highway

    14.4 mi · 16 min · Kershaw Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Kershaw Camden Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on South Hampton Street

    1.1 km · 48 sec · South Hampton Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto South Matson Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · South Matson Street

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Kershaw Camden Highway

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Kershaw Camden Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Spring Street

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Spring Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Main Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway

    7.4 mi · 8 min · Kershaw Camden Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Lancaster Bypass

    7.2 mi · 9 min · Lancaster Bypass

  18. 18

    Continue on Chester Highway

    4 mi · 5 min · Chester Highway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on Lancaster Highway

    19.9 mi · 26 min · Lancaster Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Lancaster Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Lancaster Street

  21. 21

    Continue on Gadsden Street

    2927 ft · 1 min · Gadsden Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West End Street

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lancaster Highway
19.9 mi · 20%
Kershaw Camden Highway
14.9 mi · 15%
Kershaw Highway
14.4 mi · 15%
Sumter Highway
8.43 mi · 9%
Camden Highway
8.18 mi · 8%
Thomas Sumter Highway
7.58 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

Lancaster Highway

Keep slight left to continue on Lancaster Highway

19.9 mi · 00h 26m

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
02h 01m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.8 mi
73.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Kershaw
01h 00m from Sumter
Leave By
2:26 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Sumter and Sunny near Chester.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sumter to Chester?

The road trip is about 97.4 miles (156.8 km) and usually takes 02h 01m 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?

Kershaw is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.7 miles from Sumter and 48.7 miles from Chester.

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

The direct path is about 73.6 miles (118.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.8 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 2:26 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.63 one way or $27.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Sumter and Sunny near Chester.

Stop Ideas Near Kershaw

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

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

RAIL

Camden

34 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Columbia

75 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Charlotte

80 mi away
1914 North Tryon St.
RAIL

Florence

85 mi away
805 East Day Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sumter and Chester. Straight-line distance: 73.61 mi (118.46 km).

Sumter

#1 Sumter

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

Population39,439
Coordinates33.9204400, -80.3414700
Altitude52
CountryUnited States
Chester

#2 Chester

Small rural city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States

Population5,363
Coordinates34.7048600, -81.2142600
Altitude163
CountryUnited States
Start: Sumter (-80.34147, 33.92044)
End: Chester (-81.21426, 34.70486)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 157 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.44 gal
13.01 L · about $13.63
Round trip
$27.25
6.88 gal · 26.02 L
Estimated CO2
30.6 kg one way
Round trip: 61.1 kg / 135 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $13.63 $27.25
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.24 $30.47
Premium $4.78 $16.44 $32.87
Diesel $5.62 $19.35 $38.69

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Sumter and Chester. The current time is 04:23:44.

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.