U.S. Route 278

U.S. Route 278 is a major east–west United States Highway that traverses the Southeastern United States. Spanning approximately 716 miles, it connects the Mississippi River at Greenville, Mississippi, to the Atlantic Ocean at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. The route passes through the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina, serving as a vital commercial and transportation corridor through cities like Columbus, Augusta, and Beaufort.

Route description

Beginning at a junction with U.S. Route 61 and U.S. Route 82 in Greenville, Mississippi, the highway travels eastward across the Mississippi Delta. It crosses into Alabama near Kennedy, proceeding through the western part of the state and passing near Fayette. Entering Georgia, it serves the important industrial and military center of Columbus, home to Fort Benning. From there, it continues east across the Piedmont region, running concurrently with U.S. Route 78 through Madison and Athens, the home of the University of Georgia. East of Atlanta, it serves Covington and Augusta, a major city on the Savannah River. Crossing into South Carolina, it passes through North Augusta and Aiken, known for the Aiken Training Track. It then traverses the South Carolina Lowcountry, serving Allendale, Hampton, and Beaufort, near Parris Island. The highway terminates at US 278 Business on Hilton Head Island.

History

U.S. Route 278 was originally commissioned as part of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1930. Its initial western terminus was at U.S. Route 31 in Cullman, Alabama, with an eastern terminus at U.S. Route 17 in Beaufort, South Carolina. A major extension occurred in 1934, pushing the route westward to its current origin in Greenville, Mississippi, absorbing what had been designated as U.S. Route 78E in Mississippi and Alabama. Throughout the mid-20th century, the routing was gradually realigned and improved, particularly in Georgia where it was shifted to bypass downtown areas and co-signed with other routes like U.S. Route 78 and Georgia State Route 10. The final segment to Hilton Head Island was established in the 1960s following the construction of the James F. Byrnes Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, facilitating access to the burgeoning resort community.

Major intersections

*Mississippi: U.S. Route 61 / U.S. Route 82 in Greenville. *Alabama: U.S. Route 43 in Guin; Interstate 22 / U.S. Route 78 near Jasper. *Georgia: U.S. Route 27 / U.S. Route 280 in Cedartown; Interstate 75 in Cartersville; Interstate 285 in Atlanta; Interstate 20 in Covington; Interstate 520 / U.S. Route 1 / U.S. Route 78 in Augusta. *South Carolina: Interstate 95 near Hardeeville; U.S. Route 321 in Hampton; U.S. Route 21 in Beaufort; terminus at US 278 Business on Hilton Head Island.

Auxiliary routes

U.S. Route 278 has several business routes and spur routes serving downtown areas bypassed by the main highway. Key examples include US 278 Business through downtown Augusta, which follows the historic Broad Street corridor. In South Carolina, US 278 Business provides the primary access across Hilton Head Island to its beaches and resorts. Other business routes exist or have existed in towns like Cartersville, Madison, and Beaufort.

Related routes

U.S. Route 278 shares significant concurrencies with other major U.S. Highways, most notably U.S. Route 78 across much of Georgia. It also runs concurrently with U.S. Route 82 in western Mississippi and U.S. Route 29 near Lawrenceville. Its role as a regional connector places it in relation to key interstate highways including Interstate 20, which it parallels and crosses in Georgia, and Interstate 95, which it meets in South Carolina. The highway forms part of a broader network linking the Deep South to the South Carolina coast.

Category:U.S. Route 278 Category:United States Numbered Highways in Alabama Category:United States Numbered Highways in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:United States Numbered Highways in Mississippi Category:United States Numbered Highways in South Carolina Category:Transportation in the Southeastern United States