Transporation

Sumter Airport and Air Travel Around Sumter

While everything within Sumter is within driving distance, those who travel will find the Sumter Airport a modern and local airport fully equipped with 5,500 feet of lighted paved runways, a computerized weather center and fueling facilities.

While no commercial flights are currently available, the airport is under long term growth plans that includes the implementation of commuter services. Charter and airfreight services are currently available. The Sumter Airport recently installed an Instrument Landing System.  The ILS is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on the runway. This new system will make it safer for pilots to land in Sumter regardless of weather. 

Columbia Metropolitan Airport, just 45 miles west of Sumter, serves as the area's commercial airport with American Eagle, Continental, Delta, US Airways, and United scheduling flights daily.

The nearest international airports are Charleston, which is 90 miles away and Charlotte, which is 115 miles away. In addition, Florence Regional Airport is located about 45 miles east of Sumter.

Highways

Sumter is encircled by the following interstate highways: I-95, 13 miles east via 4-lane access; 1-20, 25 miles north; I-77 40 miles west with easy access to all connections. In addition, US Highways 15, 76, 378, 401 and 521 serve the community. The primary access route to and from Sumter is U.S. 378, a four-lane, divided highway that provides easy access to all the surrounding interstates.

Rail and Truck Lines

CSX Railroad operates four sections of railway that crisscross Sumter, linking this community to Columbia, Florence, Orangeburg, and the Port of Charleston and beyond. In addition nearly 50 motor freight carriers offer traditional transport as well as inter-modal transport.

Bus Lines

The Santee Wateree Regional Transportation Authority (SWRTA) is the public transportation provider in Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter counties; providing fixed route bus and ADA services in the City of Sumter which includes services to the Cherryvale and Shaw Air Force Base Communities. SWRTA also provides Medicaid transportation services in Calhoun, Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee, Orangeburg and Sumter counties. Commuter services are also provided to Myrtle Beach from Clarendon, Lee and Sumter; Commuter services from Eastover to Columbia (Lower Richland) and from Sumter to Lugoff and Bishopville to Lugoff. SWRTA provides demand response, paratransit service, which operates in the urban and rural areas of the counties we serve. Paratransit service offers county residents accessible transportation options to ride any of these county routes on a space available basis as a cash client. SWRTA provides a vanpool service from Sumter to Columbia with SmartRide services from Camden to Columbia.

Also Greyhound commercial interstate bus lines with stops all over North America currently serve Sumter.

Waterways

The nation's fourth busiest container port, the Port of Charleston, serves more than 40 steamship lines transporting cargo between Charleston and 140 nations all around the world.