Road Trip From Ashburn to Columbia: Fastest and Slowest Routes

Are you planning a road trip from Ashburn, Virginia, to Columbia, South Carolina? Whether you're visiting friends, family or heading down for a work conference, it's important to know the estimated time of arrival. Of course, this can vary depending on traffic. To help you plan your journey properly, we've researched the fastest and slowest routes to Columbia, the distance of each route, and the estimated driving time. Let's dive in!

Fastest Route

If you're looking for the fastest route from Ashburn to Columbia, you'll want to take the I-95S route. The distance of this route is approximately 472 miles, and it would take you around 7 hours and 30 minutes to drive from Ashburn to Columbia without any stops. However, this is in ideal conditions which almost never occur in real-life situations.

Slowest Route

The slowest route to Columbia from Ashburn is US-29S and I-85S through Durham, North Carolina. This route is approximately 538 miles long, and it can take up to 9 hours and 30 minutes to drive, depending on traffic. So if you choose this route, plan for a full-day adventure!

Traffic Considerations

Traffic is always a consideration when planning a road trip. Rush hour and major highway construction can cause significant delays. To help you plan accordingly, we divided the routes into low and high traffic times.

Peak Traffic Times

For the I-95S route, the peak traffic times are weekdays from 7 am to 9 am, and weekends from 10 am to 6 pm, when the driving duration can increase by a minimum of 1 hour. It makes it a good idea to set aside around 9 hours for the trip.

The peak traffic period for the US-29S and I-85S route is weekdays from 6 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 6 pm, adding an extra hour to the driving duration.

Low Traffic Times

If you’re planning on taking the I-95S route, the best time to go is during the weekday early morning hours and weekends after 7:00 pm, when the duration time lowers to around 7 hours.

For US-29S and I-85S, the best time to take this route is on weekends or weekdays between 10 am and 3 pm. It takes approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes of driving time.

Final Thoughts

The duration of your drive from Ashburn to Columbia will depend on the route you take and traffic conditions. However, by taking note of the low and peak traffic times and choosing the right route, you can reduce delays and enjoy a smoother ride. Book your clock, pack your bags, and get ready for a great adventure!