# U.S. Route 1 in South Carolina

U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a 170.540-mile (274.458 km) north–south U.S. Highway that crosses South Carolina from southwest to northeast and connects the cities of North Augusta, Aiken, Lexington, Columbia, Camden, and Cheraw.
The route parallels Interstate 20 (I-20) closely from the Georgia border to Camden, where I-20 turns to a more directly easterly direction. From Camden to the North Carolina border, US 1 is the highest capacity route through much of the Sandhills region.

## Route description

US 1 enters South Carolina in North Augusta, along an expressway with US 25, US 78, and US 278 on a bridge over the Savannah River from Augusta, Georgia. South Carolina Highway 121 (SC 121) also begins at the state border. The expressway is known locally as the Jefferson Davis Highway. At the second interchange (E. Martintown Road), US 25 and SC 121 leave the expressway. After several at-grade intersections, there is an interchange with I-520, and the route bypasses the Aiken County communities of Clearwater (where US 278 leaves the concurrency), Burnettown, and Gloverville. Upon entering the city of Aiken, the three concurrent routes transition to a boulevard with a center turn and turns from a northeasterly direction to a more directly eastbound direction. This area is heavily developed, with shopping centers and subdivision entrances along both sides of the road. The road is known locally as Augusta–Aiken Road. Reaching the historic central area of Aiken, the route turns to a divided road again as the name changes to Richland Avenue, and the route becomes heavily residential with a wide, tree-lined median down the middle. US 1 leaves Richland Avenue and US 78 to turn north on York Street.
York Street is a four-lane boulevard until it meets Hampton Avenue, where it leaves the main grid of central Aiken and becomes a five-lane boulevard with a center turn lane through a light industrial area leading north out of the city. Leaving Aiken, it is known as the Columbia Highway and passes Aiken Regional Airport and an interchange with I-20 north of the city, after which the road narrows to a two-lane rural highway. It passes into Saluda County in Moneta, and then on through the town of Batesburg-Leesville as Columbia Avenue, where it gains a center turn lane. It meets the eastern terminus of SC 23 at the eastern edge of town and loses its center turn lane as the name changes to Augusta Highway. Passing through a large rural area, the road once again widens to a five-lane boulevard with a center turning lane as it approaches Lexington.
Entering Lexington, the road merges with US 378 along West Main Street. US 378 then leaves West Main Street along Columbia Avenue. West Main Street changes to East Main Street at Lake Drive (SC 6 and changes names again to Augusta Road about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) before a second interchange with I-20. US 1 passes east–west through the communities of Oak Grove and West Columbia before crossing the Congaree River along the Gervais Street Bridge. Shortly before the bridge US 378 merges once again with US 1.
After the river, US 1 goes through downtown Columbia along Gervais Street, passing directly in front of the South Carolina State House. At Millwood Avenue, US 1 turns northeast while US 378 leaves to the southeast on the same road. Crossing SC 12 (Taylor Street/Forest Drive), the name changes to Two Notch Road, named for when the road was marked by posts with two notches carved. Passing the Columbia Place shopping mall, it has a third interchange with I-20 and passes through several unincorporated Columbia suburbs in Richland County. An interchange with Clemson Road provides access to I-20 and to Fort Jackson.
Entering Kershaw County, US 1 merges with US 601 in Lugoff and, crossing the Wateree River, enters Camden along DeKalb Street. US 601 leaves at the center of Camden. From Camden, it continues northeast as a two-lane road through several small towns of the Sandhills region, merging with US 52 between Cheraw State Park and the town of south of Cheraw. Within Cheraw, it follows Market Street (where SC 9 joins) then Second Street and turns onto Powe Street (while US 52 continues on Second Street). US 1 turns north on its own routing while SC 9 continues west. Approximately five miles (8.0 km) north of Cheraw, US 1 enters North Carolina.
The entire route is part of the Jefferson Davis Highway, named after Civil War Confederate leader Jefferson Davis; with exception between North Augusta and Aiken, where US 1 was realigned, leaving SC 421 its section of the highway name. Markers of the highway dot all along the route, though most sections do have other road names too.

## History

US 1 was established in 1927 as an original U.S. Highway. It traveled generally as it does now, overlapping with SC 12, from North Augusta to West Columbia, SC 2, from West Columbia to Columbia, and SC 50, from Columbia to the North Carolina state line. The following year, both SC 12 and SC 50 were dropped along the route. The entire route was paved by 1932.
Around 1938, US 1 was rerouted between Cheraw and Wallace, going further north along its now current alignment and leaving behind Hickson Road (S-35-52) and Brickyard Road (S-35-36). The first section widen to four-lane was a two-mile (3.2 km) section north of Columbia, in 1940. Between 1940 and 1946, US 1 was rerouted in Columbia; originally using Gervais Street, Assembly Street, Taylor Street, and Two Notch Road, switching to Gervais Street, Harden Street, Taylor Street, and Two Notch Road. By 1952, US 1 was rerouted again in Columbia, switching to Gervais Street, Millwood Avenue, and Two Notch. Also by 1952, US 1/US 78 were given new alignment bypassing Clearwater, Bath, Langley, and Gloverville; the old alignment became SC 421. By 1957, US 1/US 78 was rerouted from the Fifth Street Bridge to its current alignment over the Savannah River.

## Major intersections

| County | Location | mi | km | Destinations | Notes |
| Savannah River | Savannah River | 0.000 | 0.000 | US 1 south / US 25 south / SR 121 south / US 78 west / US 278 west / SR 10 west (Gordon Highway) – Augusta | Continuation into Georgia |
| Savannah River | Savannah River | 0.000– 0.005 | 0.000– 0.0080 | South Carolina–Georgia state line | South Carolina–Georgia state line |
| Aiken | North Augusta | 0.188– 0.340 | 0.303– 0.547 | 5th Street Bridge / River North Drive | Interchange |
| Aiken | North Augusta | 0.640– 0.710 | 1.030– 1.143 | US 25 / SC 121 north – North Augusta, Edgefield | East end of freeway section; eastern end of US 25 and SC 121 concurrencies |
| Aiken | North Augusta | 0.870 | 1.400 | Buena Vista Avenue (SC 125 Conn. west) to I-20 / SC 230 | Right-in/right-out interchange; westbound exit and entrance; eastern terminus of SC 125 Conn. |
| Aiken | North Augusta | 1.560– 1.950 | 2.511– 3.138 | I-520 (Palmetto Parkway) – Augusta, Columbia, Atlanta | I-520 exit 17 |
| Aiken | Clearwater | 2.150– 2.380 | 3.460– 3.830 | US 278 east / SC 125 (Atomic Road) – Beech Island, Savannah River Site SC 421 north (Augusta Road) – Clearwater | Interchange; eastern end of US 278 concurrency; southern terminus of SC 421 |
| Aiken | Burnettown | 4.040 | 6.502 | SC 126 (Belvedere-Clearwater Road) – Belvedere | |
| Aiken | Graniteville | 10.324– 10.330 | 16.615– 16.625 | SC 191 (Main Street) – Graniteville, Vaucluse, Warrenville | |
| Aiken | Aiken | 12.300 | 19.795 | US 1 Truck north / US 78 Truck east / SC 19 Truck / SC 118 (Robert M. Bell Parkway south / Hitchcock Parkway north) – USC Aiken Convocation Center | Southern terminus of US 1 Truck; western terminus of US 78 Truck |
| Aiken | Aiken | 12.470 | 20.069 | SC 421 south (Augusta Road) | Northern terminus of SC 421; no left turn allowed from SC 421 NB to US 1 SB/US 78 WB |
| Aiken | Aiken | 15.620 | 25.138 | SC 19 (Laurens Street) – Eureka, Edgefield | |
| Aiken | Aiken | 15.800 | 25.428 | SC 19 Conn. (Chesterfield Street) – Savannah River Site | Signed also as SC 19 |
| Aiken | Aiken | 15.890 | 25.572 | US 78 east (Richland Avenue) – Montmorenci, Wagener | Eastern end of US 78 concurrency |
| Aiken | Aiken | 17.360 | 27.938 | US 1 Truck / US 78 Truck / SC 118 (Rudy Mason Parkway) – Williston, USC Aiken, Aiken High School, Aiken Technical College | Provides access to Aiken Regional Medical Center |
| Aiken | ​ | 23.940 | 38.528 | I-20 – Columbia, Augusta | I-20 exit 22 |
| Aiken | ​ | 33.540 | 53.977 | SC 392 (Engineer Road) – Ridge Spring | |
| Aiken | Monetta | 37.290 | 60.012 | SC 39 (Main Street / Old Ninety-Six Indian Trail) – Wagener, Orangeburg, Ridge Spring | |
| Saluda | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions | No major junctions |
| Lexington | Batesburg-Leesville | 43.150 | 69.443 | US 178 / SC 391 (Pine Street) – Orangeburg, Saluda | |
| Lexington | Batesburg-Leesville | 45.190 | 72.726 | SC 245 (Lee Street) – Orangeburg, Newberry | |
| Lexington | Batesburg-Leesville | 46.520 | 74.867 | SC 23 west (Leesville Avenue) – Ridge Spring | Eastern terminus of SC 23 |
| Lexington | Lexington | 61.020 | 98.202 | US 378 west – Saluda | Southern end of US 378 concurrency |
| Lexington | Lexington | 61.700 | 99.297 | US 378 east (Columbia Avenue) – Columbia | Northern end of US 378 concurrency |
| Lexington | Lexington | 62.250 | 100.182 | SC 6 east (Church Street / US 1 Conn. north) | Southern end of SC 6 concurrency (southbound only; southbound lanes of US 1 Conn., which only travels southbound; eastbound lanes of SC 6; southern terminus of US 1 Conn. |
| Lexington | Lexington | 62.370 | 100.375 | SC 6 west (North Lake Drive) | Northern end of SC 6 concurrency (southbound only); westbound lanes of SC 6 |
| Lexington | ​ | 64.840– 64.870 | 104.350– 104.398 | I-20 – Augusta, Florence | I-20 exit 58 |
| Lexington | Oak Grove | 70.070– 70.100 | 112.767– 112.815 | I-26 – Charleston, Spartanburg | I-26 exit 111 |
| Lexington | West Columbia | 70.760 | 113.877 | SC 12 east (Jarvis Klapman Boulevard) – Columbia | Western terminus of SC 12 |
| Lexington | West Columbia | 72.100 | 116.034 | SC 35 (12th Street) | |
| Lexington | West Columbia | 72.320 | 116.388 | Charleston Highway south (US 21 Conn. south) | No access from US 1 north to US 21 Conn. or from US 21 Conn. to US 1 south; northern terminus of US 21 Conn. and Charleston Highway |
| Lexington | West Columbia | 72.500 | 116.677 | 9th Street (SC 12 Conn. north) | Southern terminus of SC 12 Conn. |
| Lexington | West Columbia | 73.210 | 117.820 | SC 2 (State Street) | |
| Lexington | West Columbia | 73.290 | 117.949 | US 378 west (Sunset Boulevard) – Lexington | Southern end of US 378 concurrency |
| Richland | Columbia | 73.870 | 118.882 | US 21 / US 176 / US 321 (Huger Street) | |
| Richland | Columbia | 74.480 | 119.864 | SC 48 (Assembly Street) | |
| Richland | Columbia | 74.890 | 120.524 | US 76 west (Bull Street) | Southern end of US 76 concurrency |
| Richland | Columbia | 75.870 | 122.101 | US 76 east / US 378 east (Millwood Avenue) | Eastern end of US 76 and US 378 concurrencies |
| Richland | Columbia | 76.270 | 122.745 | SC 12 (Taylor Street / Forest Drive) | |
| Richland | Columbia | 78.100 | 125.690 | SC 16 (Beltline Boulevard) | |
| Richland | Columbia | 78.160 | 125.786 | US 1 Conn. west | Eastern terminus of US 1 Conn. |
| Richland | Dentsville | 82.430 | 132.658 | I-20 – Florence, Augusta | I-20 exit 74 |
| Richland | Dentsville | 83.150 | 133.817 | I-77 – Charleston, Charlotte | I-77 exit 17 |
| Kershaw | Lugoff | 101.470 | 163.300 | US 601 south – St. Matthews | Southern end of US 601 concurrency |
| Kershaw | Lugoff | 101.740 | 163.735 | SC 34 west (Ridgeway Road) – Ridgeway | Southern end of SC 34 concurrency |
| Kershaw | Camden | 104.240 | 167.758 | US 521 Truck north / US 601 Truck north (Springdale Drive) – Springdale Race Course, Steeplechase Museum, Camden Country Club | Southern end of US 521 Truck concurrency; southern terminus of US 601 Truck |
| Kershaw | Camden | 105.298 | 169.461 | Senator Donald H. Don Holland Memorial Bridge | Crossing over railroad tracks of CSX |
| Kershaw | Camden | 105.470 | 169.738 | US 521 Truck south (Chestnut Ferry Road) – Camden High School, Larry Doby Park | Northern end of US 521 Truck concurrency |
| Kershaw | Camden | 106.510 | 171.411 | US 521 / US 601 north (Broad Street) to I-20 – Sumter, Kershaw | Northern end of US 601 concurrency |
| Kershaw | Camden | 106.970 | 172.152 | US 521 Truck south (Mill Street / US 1 Truck south / SC 34 Truck) – Alpha Center | Northern terminus of US 1 Truck, US 521 Truck, and SC 34 Truck |
| Kershaw | Camden | 107.840 | 173.552 | SC 34 east (Bishopville Highway) – Bishopville | Northern end of SC 34 concurrency |
| Kershaw | Bethune | 126.680 | 203.872 | SC 341 (Main Street) – Bishopville, Kershaw | |
| Chesterfield | McBee | 133.720 | 215.201 | SC 151 (Pine Avenue) – Hartsville, Jefferson | |
| Chesterfield | ​ | 135.570 | 218.179 | SC 145 north – Chesterfield | To Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge |
| Chesterfield | Patrick | 148.540 | 239.052 | SC 102 (Poison Street / Turnage Street) – Hartsville, Chesterfield | |
| Chesterfield | ​ | 158.450 | 255.001 | US 52 south – Society Hill, Darlington | Southern end of US 52 concurrency; to Cheraw State Park |
| Chesterfield | ​ | 159.360 | 256.465 | US 1 Truck north / US 52 Truck north (Cash Road) to SC 9 / SC 9 Truck | Southern terminius of US 1 Truck and US 52 Truck |
| Chesterfield | Cheraw | 160.790 | 258.766 | SC 9 north (Market Street) – Chesterfield | Southern end of SC 9 concurrency |
| Chesterfield | Cheraw | 162.050 | 260.794 | US 52 north (2nd Street) – Morven, Wadesboro | Northern end of US 52 concurrency |
| Chesterfield | Cheraw | 162.150 | 260.955 | US 1 Truck south / US 52 Truck / SC 9 Truck north (Front Street) – Old St. David's Church | Northern terminus of US 1 Truck; southern terminus of SC 9 Truck |
| Marlboro | Wallace | 163.930 | 263.820 | SC 9 south to SC 177 – Bennettsville, Hamlet | Northern end of SC 9 concurrency |
| Marlboro | ​ | 170.540 | 274.458 | US 1 north – Rockingham | Continuation into North Carolina |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrency terminus ||||||