Interstate 385

Interstate 385 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of South Carolina. It serves as a primary connector between the Upstate region and the state capital, running approximately 42 miles from Clinton north to Columbia. The highway provides a critical link between Interstate 26 and the Greenville-Spartanburg area via its parent route, Interstate 85.

Route description

Traveling north from its southern terminus at U.S. Route 176 near Clinton, the route passes through the rural landscapes of Laurens County and Newberry County. It intersects South Carolina Highway 72 near Joanna and provides access to Newberry via an interchange with South Carolina Highway 34. The highway continues northeast, crossing into Fairfield County and skirting the western edge of the Sumter National Forest. As it approaches the Columbia metropolitan area, it enters Richland County and becomes a major urban arterial, culminating at its complex northern terminus with Interstate 26 and Interstate 126 just southwest of downtown Columbia. This final segment provides direct access to the South Carolina State House, the University of South Carolina, and Fort Jackson.

History

The route was originally conceived as part of the federal Interstate Highway System plans in the 1950s to improve connectivity to the state capital. Construction began in the early 1960s, with the first segment opening to traffic between Columbia and Winnsboro. The final segment, completing the connection to U.S. Route 176 near Clinton, was opened in the late 1970s. The highway's designation was officially approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 1964. Key projects have included the modernization of its interchange with Interstate 26 and various widening efforts within Richland County to alleviate congestion. The route has played a significant role in the economic development of communities like Newberry and has facilitated growth in the Lake Murray region.

Junction list

The entire route is in South Carolina. {| class="wikitable" |- ! County ! Location ! mi ! km ! Exit ! Destinations ! Notes |- | rowspan="2" | Laurens | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | 0.00 | rowspan="2" | 0.00 | rowspan="2" | 1 | rowspan="2" | – Clinton, Laurens | rowspan="2" | Southern terminus |- |- | rowspan="2" | Newberry | Joanna | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | | 5 | SC 72 – Joanna, Whitmire | |- | Newberry | | | 18 | SC 34 – Newberry | |- | Fairfield | Jenkinsville | | | 27 | SC 213 – Jenkinsville, Monticello Reservoir | |- | rowspan="3" | Richland | rowspan="3" | Columbia | rowspan="3" | | rowspan="3" | | 34 | US 76 / SC 760 – Winnsboro | |- | | | 40 | Blythewood Road / Clemson Road | |- | | | 42 | – Charleston, Spartanburg, Downtown Columbia | Northern terminus; I-126 exit 1 |}

Auxiliary routes

Interstate 385 has no signed, designated auxiliary routes such as I-526 in Charleston or I-126 in Columbia. However, its northern terminus directly feeds into Interstate 126, a short spur leading into downtown Columbia. The highway also functionally serves as a connector to its parent route, Interstate 85, via the I-26 corridor towards Spartanburg. Other three-digit Interstates in South Carolina include I-520 in Augusta area, I-585 in Spartanburg, and the proposed I-73 corridor.

Category:Interstate Highways in South Carolina Category:Transportation in Richland County, South Carolina Category:Transportation in Laurens County, South Carolina