How far is Williamston, SC from Columbia, SC?

The driving distance from Williamston, SC to Columbia, SC is about 101.9 miles (164 km), with a travel time of about 01h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 92.8 miles (149.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 28m 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
101.93 mi
01h 44m
Flight
92.76 mi
149.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Williamston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
92.76 mi
Kilometers
149.28 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
101.93 mi
Kilometers
164.04 km
Drive Time
01h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 4:22 AM EDT
Return by in Williamston
Thu, Apr 23, 6:06 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Williamston
2026-04-23T02:38
Arrive Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 4:22 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:44 AM to 11:44 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:02 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Williamston
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
Joanna
SC

Census-designated place in Laurens County, South Carolina

From Williamston
50.7 mi
00h 52m
To Columbia
51.2 mi
00h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph W
Destination
89°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Spring Park

    25 m · 5 sec · Spring Park

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    104 m · 7 sec · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on East Main Street

    1677 ft · 35 sec · East Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Greenville Drive

    1.2 km · 1 min · Greenville Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on South Carolina 20

    537 ft · 12 sec · South Carolina 20

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Courtney Street Extension

    1 mi · 2 min · Courtney Street Extension

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Lebby Street

    1144 ft · 25 sec · Lebby Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 8 East

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Highway 8 East

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 418

    9.9 mi · 14 min · Highway 418

  10. 10

    Continue on Milacron Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Milacron Drive

  11. 11

    Continue on McCarter Road

    940 ft · 20 sec · McCarter Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    1748 ft · 43 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Golden Strip Freeway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Golden Strip Freeway

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 126, US 76: Columbia

    3.4 mi · 4 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Huger Street

    1161 ft · 28 sec

  17. 17

    Continue on Huger Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Huger Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Gervais Street

    1 km · 1 min · Gervais Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Gervais Street

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden Strip Freeway
78.7 mi · 77%
Highway 418
9.91 mi · 10%
Highway 8 East
3.74 mi · 4%
I 126
3.4 mi · 3%
Milacron Drive
1.29 mi · 1%
Courtney Street Extension
1.01 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Golden Strip Freeway

Merge slight left

55.8 mi · 01h 01m

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 44m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+9.1 mi
92.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Joanna
00h 52m from Williamston
Leave By
3:02 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Williamston and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 101.9 miles (164 km) and usually takes 01h 44m 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?

Joanna is a useful midpoint, sitting about 50.7 miles from Williamston and 51.2 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 92.8 miles (149.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 9.1 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 3:02 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $14.26 one way or $28.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Joanna

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

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

RAIL

Spartanburg

61 mi away
290 Magnolia St
RAIL

Greenville

74 mi away
1120 West Washington Street
RAIL

Columbia

85 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Clemson

98 mi away
Calhoun Memorial Hwy and College Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Williamston and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 92.76 mi (149.28 km).

Williamston

#1 Williamston

Town in Anderson County, South Carolina

Population4,298
Coordinates34.6184500, -82.4779100
Altitude248
CountryUnited States
Columbia

#2 Columbia

The most populous city in South Carolina.

Population132,130
Coordinates34.0007100, -81.0348100
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Start: Spring Park (-82.477918, 34.618451)
End: Gervais Street (-81.034853, 34.000804)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 164 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 23m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.6 gal
13.62 L · about $14.26
Round trip
$28.52
7.2 gal · 27.24 L
Estimated CO2
32 kg one way
Round trip: 64 kg / 141 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $14.26 $28.52
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.94 $31.89
Premium $4.78 $17.20 $34.40
Diesel $5.62 $20.25 $40.49

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 Williamston and Columbia. The current time is 02:38:04.

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.