US 76 enters South Carolina across the Chattooga River, then continues southeast toward Westminster. This segment is a moderately windy two-lane road. In Westminster, it heads east toward Seneca and Clemson. From Clemson, the road heads southeast toward Anderson, intersecting Interstate 85, then east toward the small towns of Belton and Honea Path. US 76 is a four-lane highway from Westminster to Anderson. In Anderson, the road widens to six lanes with a reversible turn lane. After a concurrency with US 178, the road narrows to five lanes, and, as it goes south towards downtown Anderson, it narrows againk to four. However, the sections around Seneca, Clemson, and Anderson are well developed with many traffic lights. It travels concurrent with US 123 from Westminster to Clemson, SC 28 from Seneca to Anderson, and US 178 from Anderson to Honea Path. From Honea Path, the highway heads east to Laurens. This section is a rural two-lane road that is not frequently traveled. From Laurens, US 76 roughly parallels I-385 and I-26 as it heads to Columbia. US 76 provides local access to the communities of Laurens, Clinton, Newberry, Prosperity, Chapin, and the other smaller towns in the area. In Irmo, US 76 travels concurrent with US 176, then continues on to I-26, with which it travels concurrent. After the interchange with I-20, US 76 splits off from I-26 and continues into downtown Columbia concurrent with I-126. In Columbia, US 76 follows Elmwood Avenue, Bull Street, Gervais Street, Millwood Avenue, and Devine Street, before heading east toward Sumter. The segment from Columbia to Sumter is a four-lane highway and US 76 is concurrent with US 378 from the intersection of Bull and Gervais near the University of South Carolina in Columbia all the way to Sumter. From Sumter, US 76 heads northeast to Florence. US 76 is the major road through Florence. It then continues east out of Florence to the small towns of Marion and Mullins, then into North Carolina. The highway is concurrent with US 301 from Florence to across the Pee Dee River.
History
Formerly, US 76 followed a longer route from Westminster to Pendleton. From Westminster, the old route followed S-37-13 through the Richland community, then its current alignment to SC 59 into downtown Seneca, then SC 130 out of Seneca to S-37-1, then its current alignment to SC 93 toward Clemson University, then SC 28 Business through Pendleton.
Junction list
Special routes
Seneca business loop
U.S. Route 76 Business was established in 1958 as a renumbering of mainline US 76 through downtown Seneca, via North 1st Street. It was decommissioned in 2000, renumbered as part of SC 59 and SC 130.
Laurens business loop
U.S. Route 76 Business was established in 1982 as a renumbering of mainline US 76 through downtown Laurens, via Main Street. The entire route is two-lane.
Newberry business loop
U.S. Route 76 Business was established in 1959 as a renumbering of mainline US 76 through downtown Newberry, via College Street, Main Street, Glenn Street, and Adelaide Street. It was decommissioned in 2001, all becoming secondary roads, with exception to northern part of College Street being part of SC 121.
U.S. Route 76 Connector is a connector route of US 76 that is an unsigned highway. It exists in three different segments and is located in the west-central part of Richland County and entirely within the city limits of Columbia in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It connects US 21/US 76/US 321 with US 76/US 378. The western segment is concurrent with US 21 Conn. for its entire length. The central segment is known as Cross Hill Road for its entire length. The western segment of US 76 Conn. is a highway that begins at an intersection with US 21/US 176/US 321. It travels to the east-northeast on Blossom Street. It crosses over some railroad tracks of CSX. It passes Greek Village, the fraternities and sororities of the University of South Carolina. Right after passing the Carolina Coliseum, it intersects South Carolina Highway 48. The highway passes the Carolina Community Garden at the Honors Residence Hall. Then, it passes the Thomas Cooper Library and then the Booker T. Washington Auditorium. It curves to the northeast and travels along the northwestern edge of Maxcy Gregg Park. This is southeast of the USC tennis courts at Blossom Street. The connector curves to the east and travels under a railroad bridge that carries railroad tracks of Norfolk Southern Railway. It curves to the southeast. At the intersection with Saluda Avenue, the highway turns left and travels to the northeast. One block later, at Devine Street, it turns right and travels to the east-northeast. At an intersection with Harden Street, it curves to the east-southeast and travels through a retail area before meeting its eastern terminus, an intersection with US 76/US 378. The central segment of US 76 Conn. is a highway that begins at an intersection with SC 16 southwest of Brennen Elementary School. It travels to the south-southeast and curves to the south-southwest. It curves back to the south-southeast and meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with US 76/US 378 and the western terminus of SC 760. The eastern segment of US 76 Conn. is a highway that begins at an intersection with SC 16 southwest of the eastern terminus of the central segment of the connector route. It travels east-southeast on Rosewood Drive and passes the Beltline Campus of Midlands Technical College. It curves to the east-northeast and crosses over Gills Creek. It curves to the northeast and intersects US 76/US 378. Here, the connector becomes known as Wildcat Road. The highway curves to the east-northeast and meets its eastern terminus, an intersection with SC 760.
Sumter business loop
U.S. Route 76 Business was established in 1959 as a renumbering of mainline US 76 through downtown Sumter, via Liberty Street, Washington Street, and Broad Street.
