From: Georgia State Line below Allendale (Jasper County)
To: North Carolina State Line at Hamer (Dillon County)
Total Length: 190.3 miles
Nationally, US 301 runs from US 41 Bradenton, FL to US 40 Glasgow, DE.

ROUTE LOG
GA STATE LINE: 0 - 0
SC 3: 5.7 - 5.7
US 278 EB, SC 125: 7.2 - 12.9
US 278 WB: 0.3 - 13.2
SC 641: 1.2 - 14.4
SC 300: 6.9 - 21.3
US 321 SB: 0.5 - 21.8 Bamberg-Allendale Line: 1.7 - 23.5
US 321 NB: 0.4 - 23.9
SC 64 EB: 2.6 - 26.5
SC 64 WB: 0.3 - 26.8
US 601 SB: 12.1 - 38.9
US 78: 0.9 - 39.8
Orangeburg-Bamberg Line: 3.1 - 42.9
SC 332: 2.6 - 45.5
SC 70: 6.4 - 51.5
SC 4: 3.3 - 54.8
SC 33: 1.8 - 56.6
US 178 Bus: 0.6 - 57.2
US 21 Bus, US 601 NB: 0.6 - 57.8
US 21, US 178: 1.4 - 59.2
I-26 (exit 154): 6.1 - 65.3
US 176: 6.2 - 71.5
SC 47: 0.5 - 72
SC 267: 5.5 - 77.5
US 15 SB: 1.8 - 79.3
I-95 SB (exit 97): 1.1 - 80.4
SC 6: 1.6 - 82
Orangeburg-Clarendon Line: 1.5 - 83.5
I-95 NB (exit 102): 2.2 - 85.7
US 15 NB: 7.5 - 93.2
I-95 (exit 115): 5.3 - 98.5
SC 260: 4.9 - 103.4
SC 261: 0.3 - 103.7
US 521 SB: 0.7 - 104.4
US 521 NB: 1.1 - 105.5
SC 527: 10.6 - 116.1
US 378 WB: 5.9 - 122
SC 58: 0.1 - 122.1
US 378 EB: 0.4 - 122.5
Florence-Clarendon Line: 3.5 - 126
SC 341: 2.4 - 128.4
SC 403: 3.3 - 131.7
US 52 EB, SC 327: 10.4 - 142.1
SC 51: 7.6 - 149.7
US 52 WB, US 76 WB: 1.9 - 151.6
SC 327 NB: 4.7 - 156.3
SC 327 SB: 1.7 - 158
Marion-Florence Line: 6.2 - 164.2
US 76 EB: 1.2 - 165.4
Dillon-Marion Line: 7 - 172.4
SC 38: 1.1 - 173.5
US 501 SB: 2.5 - 176
SC 917: 0.4 - 176.4
SC 9 EB, SC 34, SC 57 SB: 6.7 - 183.1
SC 9 WB, SC 57 NB: 1 - 184.1
I-95 (exit 1): 6.1 - 190.2
NC STATE LINE: 0.1 - 190.3

Creation: Appeared in South Carolina in late 1932, the same year it appeared nationally. US 301 entered S.C. at Hamer and proceeded south through Dillon, Latta, and Sellers before ending at US 17 (current US 76) in Pee Dee. This was a complete renumbering of US 217 and had also been the entire original SC 23. US 301 in S.C. totaled 24 miles.
Adjustments: In 1935, US 301 was extended west to Florence (as a multiplex with the brand new US 76), then south with the brand new US 52 to Effingham, then southwest through Olanta, Turbeville, Manning, and ending at US 15 in Summerton. Effingham to Summerton was a renumbering of SC 4, except between the Black River and Manning, which was new construction (SC 4 followed today's S-14-265/242 over to Alcolu and used today's US 521 to go to Manning from there). US 301 became 98 miles after this extension.
In 1947 or 1948, US 301 was substantially extended south again, along US 15 to Santee, then replacing SC 4 over to Orangeburg, then replacing SC 33 tthrough Bamberg to Ulmers, then replacing SC 508 to Allendale, and finally replacing SC 73 to the Georgia Line.
Between 1954-58, US 301 was rerouted in Orangeburg. Initially, US 301 used Dorchester St. over to Russel St, which US 301 followed through Orangeburg and on over the Edisto River. Now, US 301 was given its current routing that skirts around the south of downtown. This left behind S-38-1 and an extended SC 33.
In 1987, US 301 was put onto I-95 between Exit 97 and Exit 102, over Lake Marion. The US 15-301 bridge over Lake Marion has been closed to traffic ever since. The road south of Lake Marion became S-38-430 and US 15/301-SC 6 CONN. The approach to I-95 north of the lake had been S-14-400 and the route connecting US 15-301 to I-95 Exit 97 had previously been I-95/US 301 CONN.
US 301 is currently being constructed to bypass Florence to the east. A small piece of this may be open in the SC 51 area and is signed as US 52-301 TRUCK (which veers off onto Church St eventually to meet back up with US 52 and US 301).
Improvements: Paved upon designation
The first multilane sections of US 301 appeared between 1962-64: The entire US 76 multiplex; Florence down to SC 51; I-26 west to SC 4; SC 641 to the south side of Allendale
The next section to be upgraded was the first 3 miles north of the Savannah River, between 1965-67.
The next section to be upgraded was Latta to Dillon, between 1968-70. Also, US 301 was 4-laned from SC 51 to Effingham, and finished from Georgia to SC 641.
In 1971 or 1972, US 301 was 4-laned between I-26 and I-95.
In 1973, US 301 was 4-laned from SC 70 to SC 641, making US 301 4-lane from I-95 all the way to Georgia.
Obviously when US 301 was moved onto I-95 around Lake Marion, that made US 301 a freeway right there.
Comment: US 301 serves South of the Border, the famous tourist trap with the tacky billboards up and down I-95. Note that this place actually dates back to the 40's as a beer stand (Robeson County, NC was dry back in the day) on US 301-501.
The original Savannah River Bridge was partially still standing the last time I drove over there in the early 90's.
The original Lake Marion bridge for US 301 (which is not US 15's original bridge) is fully intact and can be bicycled/walked.
Unlike North Carolina and Virginia, US 301 in South Carolina actually gives I-95 some breathing room. On the other hand, US 301 is the same in that there are many old mom and pop businesses that are rotting away along its path.
Up until the early 90's there was giant billboard on I-95 SB in Santee with a giant "301 to Florida" banner. Just in case you felt the need to traverse inland swamps instead of coastal ones.
US 301 in Orangeburg passes right by Edisto Gardens, which is featured in photos on several official map issues. Less well known is Thug Mansion, a nightclub I saw in Jan. 2005 whose title made me chuckle (located near the Orangeburg bypass east of town).
US 301 is the longest US Route in S.C. with no business designations (at least for now!).

Last Update: 12 April 2005

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