U.S. Route 278 (US 278) is a parallel route of US 78. It currently runs for from

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Hilton Head Island, sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head, is a Lowcountry resort town and barrier island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and southwest of Charleston. The island is na ...

, to

Wickes, Arkansas Wickes is a city in Polk County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 754 at the 2010 census. Near Wickes is the Boggs Springs Youth Encampment of the American Baptist Association, a retreat of Missionary Baptist churches. Wickes has his ...

at US 71/ US 59, passing through five states in the process. Landmarks along its route include the

Department of Energy A Ministry of Energy or Department of Energy is a government department in some countries that typically oversees the production of fuel and electricity; in the United States, however, it manages nuclear weapons development and conducts energy-relat ...

Savannah River Site The Savannah River Site (SRS) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reservation in the United States in the state of South Carolina, located on land in Aiken, Allendale, and Barnwell counties adjacent to the Savannah River, southeast of August ...

in South Carolina and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway in eastern Mississippi. There are several universities located along the highway including

Georgia State University Georgia State University (Georgia State, State, or GSU) is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is also the largest institution of hig ...

, the

University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi ( byname Ole Miss) is a public research university that is located adjacent to Oxford, Mississippi, and has a medical center in Jackson. It is Mississippi's oldest public university and its largest by enrollment. ...

, and the

University of Arkansas at Monticello The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) is a public university in Monticello, Arkansas with Colleges of Technology in Crossett and McGehee. UAM is part of the University of Arkansas System and offers master's degrees, baccalaureate degre ...

Route description

Arkansas

US 278 begins at an intersection with US 59/ US 71 in the town of

Wickes Wickes is a home improvement retailer and garden centre, based in the United Kingdom with more than 230 stores throughout the country. Its main business is the sale of supplies and materials, for homeowners and the building trade. It is listed ...

in southwestern Arkansas. From Wickes, US 278 continues eastward near Gillham Lake to an overlap with US 70 through Dierks. Continuing south, US 278 overlaps Highway 26 for at Center Point. Further south the route continues into

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and t ...

. The route overlaps US 371 and later Highway 27 upon entering Nashville. Entering Hempstead County, the highway winds through rural areas to Ozan and

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

, before meeting US 278 Business (US 278B) outside

Hope Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: "expect with confidence" and "to cherish ...

. The highway crosses over

Interstate 30 Interstate 30 (I-30) is a Interstate Highway in the southern states of Texas and Arkansas in the United States. I-30 travels from I-20 west of Fort Worth, Texas, northeast via Dallas, and Texarkana, Texas, to I-40 in North Little Rock, ...

(I-30) shortly after entering the city limits and overlaps Highway 29 and

Highway 32 The following highways are numbered 32: International * Asian Highway 32 * European route E32 Australia * Great Western Highway * Barrier Highway * East Derwent Highway * Mitchell Highway Canada * Alberta Highway 32 * Manitoba Highway 32 ...

. US 278/AR 29/AR 32 intersect

US 67 U.S. Route 67 is a major north–south U.S. highway which extends for 1,560 miles (2,511 km) in the Central United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in Presidio, Texas, where it continues so ...

in east Hope. South of this junction AR 29 splits and US 278/AR 32 continues southeast. Further along this route, AR 32 turns southeast to Willisville and US 278 runs toward

Camden Camden may refer to: People * Camden (surname), a surname of English origin * Camden Joy (born 1964), American writer * Camden Toy (born 1957), American actor Places Australia * Camden, New South Wales * Camden, Rosehill, a heritage res ...

. The route intersects Highway 53 in rural Nevada County, overlaps US 371 in Rosston, and has a junction with Highway 57 upon entering Ouachita County. In

, US 278 intersects Highway 24 before it meets US 278B and US 79B prior to overlapping US 79. US 278 breaks from US 79 near

Harrell Field Harrell Field (Camden Regional Airport, or Camden Municipal Airport) is five miles northeast of Camden, in Ouachita County, Arkansas, United States. The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 categorizes it as a '' g ...

shortly before entering East Camden. US 278 continues into Calhoun County and

Hampton Hampton may refer to: Places Australia *Hampton bioregion, an IBRA biogeographic region in Western Australia * Hampton, New South Wales *Hampton, Queensland, a town in the Toowoomba Region *Hampton, Victoria Canada *Hampton, New Brunswick *Ham ...

and a junction with

US 371 U.S. Route 371 is a north–south United States highway in the U.S. states of Arkansas and Louisiana. The highway's northern terminus is in De Queen, Arkansas at an intersection with U.S. Highway 70. It is co-signed for its last between Lo ...

. The east edge of town brings an intersection with Highway 274 as US 278 continues to

Harrell Harrell can refer to: * Harrell (name), given name and surname * Harrell, Alabama, United States * Harrell, Arkansas, United States See also *Harrells, North Carolina, United States *Harrel Harrel is a surname. It may refer to the following notab ...

and Highway 160 before entering Bradley County. Aside from

Banks A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets. Because ...

, where US 278 has a junction with Highway 275, the route runs through rural country until

Warren A warren is a network of wild rodent or lagomorph, typically rabbit burrows. Domestic warrens are artificial, enclosed establishment of animal husbandry dedicated to the raising of rabbits for meat and fur. The term evolved from the medieval Angl ...

, where US 278 almost entirely bypasses the city to the south while US 278B runs downtown, including a brief overlap with US 63B. US 278 has an intersection with US 63/ AR 8 along the southern edge of Warren before serving as the eastern terminus for US 278B. Further east the highway intersects Highway 172, which gives access to the Warren Prairie Natural Area just east of the Drew County line. The route continues to

Monticello Monticello ( ) was the primary plantation of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who began designing Monticello after inheriting land from his father at age 26. Located just outside Charlottesville, V ...

to McGehee, where it meets US 65. US 278 overlaps US 65 southward for until they separate in

Lake Village Lake Village is a city in and the county seat of Chicot County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 2,575 at the 2010 census. It is located in the Arkansas Delta. Lake Village is named for its location on Lake Chicot, an oxbow lake fo ...

. There, US 65 splits off and US 278 overlaps US 82 east to the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it ...

, where US 82/US 278 crosses into Mississippi. Long-term plans are to move US 278 to the Charles W. Dean Bridge, which is part of the proposed extension of

I-69 Interstate 69 (I-69) is an Interstate Highway in the United States currently consisting of 10 unconnected segments with an original continuous segment from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, a ...

Mississippi

US 82/US 278 goes through Greenville to Leland, where US 278 separates from US 82 at US 61. US 278 then joins US 61 northward through

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U ...

before splitting in Clarksdale. East of Clarksdale, it overlaps

Mississippi Highway 6 Mississippi Highway 6 (MS 6) runs east–west from MS 161 in Lyon, east to MS 25 near Amory. It travels approximately , serving Coahoma, Quitman, Panola, Lafayette, Pontotoc, Lee, and Monroe Counties. West of Tupelo, it is co ...

through Batesville,

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the Un ...

, and Pontotoc before reaching

Tupelo Tupelo , genus ''Nyssa'' , is a small genus of deciduous trees with alternate, simple leaves. It is sometimes included in the subfamily Nyssoideae of the dogwood family, Cornaceae, but is placed by other authorities in the family Nyssaceae. In ...

. At Tupelo, MS 6 separates from US 278 while US 278 overlaps US 45 south to New Wren. From New Wren, US 278 continues east through Amory before entering

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

Alabama

US 278 enters Alabama between Greenwood Springs, Mississippi, and

Sulligent, Alabama Sulligent is a city in Lamar County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 1,927, down from its record high of 2,151 in 2000. From 1910-1950 and again in 2000, it was the largest community in Lamar County ...

. As in Georgia, this and all U.S routes are partnered with state routes; however, there are few instances throughout the state where the state route number is posted. From the Mississippi state line to Guin, US 278 is paired with State Route 118. From Hamilton to the Georgia state line, US 278 is paired with State Route 74. US 278 junctions with US 431 at

Gadsden Gadsden may refer to: Places *Gadsden, Alabama **Gadsden Depot, a United States Army Depot in the city of Gadsden, Alabama *Gadsden, Arizona *Gadsden, Indiana * Gadsden, South Carolina * Gadsden, Tennessee * Gadsden County, Florida * Gadsden Ind ...

. The two routes overlap until they split at Attalla. US 278 overlaps US 43 between Hamilton and Guin. Prior to the completion of Corridor X (Future I-22), these two routes also overlapped US 78 between these two towns; eastbound US 78 traveled in the same direction as westbound US 278.

Georgia

In Atlanta, US 278 runs along Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway (

Bankhead Highway The Bankhead Highway was a United States cross-country automobile highway connecting Washington, D.C., and San Diego. The Bankhead Highway's beginnings can be traced back to 1916 when the Bankhead Highway Association was organized to promote the ...

), North Avenue, briefly along Piedmont Road and Ponce de Leon Avenue. Outside the Perimeter, US 278 runs along Covington Highway. In

Lithonia, Georgia Lithonia (, ; AAVE: ) is a city in eastern DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The city's population was 2,662 at the 2020 census. Lithonia is in the Atlanta metropolitan area. "Lithonia" means "city/town of stone". Lithonia is in the hea ...

, at the intersection with Turner Hill Road ( SR 124), US 278 merges with

I-20 Interstate 20 (I‑20) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. I-20 runs beginning at an interchange with I-10 in Scroggins Draw, Texas, and ending at an interchange with I-95 in Florence, South Carolina. Bet ...

for . It leaves I-20 at exit 90, in

Covington, Georgia Covington is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia and the seat of Newton County, and is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, its population 14,113. History Covington was founded by European immigrants to the United Stat ...

. US 278 is co-signed with a state route for its entire length in Georgia, as are all U.S. Highways in the state. From the Alabama line into Lithia Springs, it is co-signed with SR 6. From Lithia Springs through Atlanta, it is merged with US 78/ SR 8. In Atlanta, US 278 merges further with other highways including SR 10 and US 23 before splitting off at Ponce de Leon Ave. and East Lake Road near Decatur. In Avondale Estates, SR 12 is paired with US 278, all the way into Thomson. There, US 278 merges with US 78/SR 10 to the South Carolina line.

South Carolina

After crossing the Savannah River, US 278 bypasses

North Augusta, South Carolina North Augusta is a city in Aiken and Edgefield counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, on the north bank of the Savannah River. The population was 21,348 at the 2010 census. The city is included in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA ...

, en route to Beech Island and Johnson Crossroads. It then winds through a corner of the

. The route then continues onward through the towns of Allendale,

Fairfax Fairfax may refer to: Places United States * Fairfax, California * Fairfax Avenue, a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles, California * Fairfax District, Los Angeles, California, centered on Fairfax Avenue * Fairfax, Georgia * Fairfax, Indiana * Fa ...

, Varnville, Ridgeland, and

Hardeeville Hardeeville is a city in Jasper and Beaufort counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 7,473 as of the 2020 census, an increase of over 150% since 2010. Hardeeville is included within the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beau ...

where it meets

I-95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadi ...

. US 278 shares the route between Ridgeland and Hardeeville with US 17. Upon reaching Hardeeville, the route heads eastward toward the

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the "Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

with major new developments lining the spine of the road from Hardeeville through Sun City and Bluffton before crossing over the bridge to

Hilton Head Island Hilton Head Island, sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head, is a South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry resort town and barrier island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and southwest of C ...

. US 278 ends at US 278 Business on the southern portion of Hilton Head Island, just outside

Sea Pines Plantation The Sea Pines Resort or Sea Pines is located in Sea Pines Plantation, a 5,200-acre private residential gated community located on the southern tip of the island which comprises the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Sea Pines is home to f ...

History

In 1954, US 278 was extended from

Guin, Alabama Guin is a city in Marion County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in December 1889. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,195. History Guin takes its name from a young country doctor, Dr. Jeremiah ("Jerry") Guin from Tuscaloosa Coun ...

, to

Augusta, Georgia Augusta ( ), officially Augusta–Richmond County, is a consolidated city-county on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia. The city lies across the Savannah River from South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Georg ...

. The extension was routed along US 43 from Guin to

Hamilton, Alabama Hamilton is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Alabama, United States. It incorporated in 1896 and since 1980 has been the county's largest city, surpassing Winfield. It was previously the largest town in 1910. At the 2020 census, ...

, then over SR 74 to the Georgia state line. In Georgia, US 278 was routed over SR 6 to

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,71 ...

and SR 12 to Augusta. A further extension from Augusta to

Jacksonboro, South Carolina Jacksonboro is an unincorporated community and census-designated place located in southeastern Colleton County, South Carolina, United States, along the west side of the Edisto River. Jacksonboro serves as a primary junction along U.S. Highway 1 ...

, in 1955 was denied by AASHO in 1955. In 1989, US 278 was rerouted through

Dallas, Georgia Dallas is a city in, and the county seat of, Paulding County, Georgia, Paulding County, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, United States. The estimated population, as of 2010, was 11,544. Dallas is a northwestern exurb of Atlanta, located approximat ...

; the former route through town was redesignated US 278 Byp. AASHTO approved another relocation through

Rockmart, Georgia Rockmart is a town in Polk County, Georgia, United States. Its population was 4,732 at the 2020 census. It developed as a railroad depot town when the Southern Railway built a station in the area. The community was incorporated in 1872, and w ...

, in 1990; the former route through town became US 278 Bus. A third relocation the following year in

Cedartown, Georgia Cedartown is a city and the county seat of Polk County, Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 10,190. Cedartown is the principal city of and is included in the Cedartown, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is i ...

, was also approved. Alabama rerouted a section of US 278 in Guin over a section of SR 118 in 1995. At the same time, South Carolina rerouted the highway in Ridgeland over US 17 and SC 88. Mississippi and Arkansas extended US 278 westward in 1997 from US 45 in

Nettleton, Mississippi Nettleton is a town in Lee and Monroe counties in Mississippi. The population was 1,935 at the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1888, the town was named after George Henry Nettleton, president of the Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad (KC ...

, to US 71 in

. The following year, the highway was relocated on

; the former routing because US 278 Bus. Alabama relocated US 278 in

in 2000. Until early 2005, US 278 was only signed in Mississippi from the Alabama state line to US 45 west of Amory. US 278 in western Alabama was formerly routed through Haleyville via current SR 195 and SR 129. In 2014, Alabama relocated US 278 in Cullman.

Major intersections

;Arkansas : in

: north-northeast of Dierks. The highways travel concurrently to Dierks. : west of

. The highways travel concurrently to Nashville. : in

: in Hope : in Rosston. The highways travel concurrently through Rosston. : in

. The highways travel concurrently to west-northwest of East Camden. : in

: in

: east of Warren : in

: west of Monticello : northwest of McGehee. The highways will travel concurrently to

Clarksdale, Mississippi Clarksdale is a city in and the county seat of Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. It is located along the Sunflower River. Clarksdale is named after John Clark, a settler who founded the city in the mid-19th century when he establish ...

. : in McGehee. US 65/US 278 travels concurrently to south-southeast of

. US 165/US 278 travels concurrently to Dermott. : in Lake Village. The highways travel concurrently to east of

Leland, Mississippi Leland is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. It is located within the Mississippi Delta, on the banks of Deer Creek. The population was 4,481 at the 2010 census. It was once a railway town and had long been a center of cot ...

. ;Mississippi : east of Leland. US 61/US 278 travels concurrently to Clarksdale. : in Clarksdale. The highways travel concurrently through Clarksdale. : in Clarksdale : in Batesville : in Batesville : on the

Verona Verona ( , ; vec, Verona or ) is a city on the Adige River in Veneto, Italy, with 258,031 inhabitants. It is one of the seven provincial capitals of the region. It is the largest city municipality in the region and the second largest in nor ...

–

city line. The highways travel concurrently to north-northwest of New Wren. ;Alabama : in Guin. The highways travel concurrently to Hamilton. : in Hamilton : in Cullman : in Cullman : south-southwest of

Summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for a m ...

: northwest of Attalla. The highways travel concurrently to

. : in Attalla. The highways travel concurrently through Attalla. : in Attalla : in Gadsden ;Georgia : in

Cedartown Cedartown is a city and the county seat of Polk County, Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 10,190. Cedartown is the principal city of and is included in the Cedartown, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is i ...

. The highways travel concurrently through Cedartown. : in Lithia Springs. The highways travel concurrently to Druid Hills. : in

: in Atlanta. The highways travel concurrently through Atlanta. : in Atlanta. US 29/US 278 travels concurrently to Druid Hills. : in Atlanta. The highways travel concurrently to Druid Hills. : in

Belvedere Park Belvedere (from Italian, meaning "beautiful sight") may refer to: Places Australia * Belvedere, Queensland, a locality in the Cassowary Coast Region Africa *Belvedere (Casablanca), a neighborhood in Casablanca, Morocco * Belvedere, Harare, Z ...

: southeast of Lithonia. The highways travel concurrently to

Covington Covington may refer to: People * Covington (surname) Places United Kingdom * Covington, Cambridgeshire * Covington, South Lanarkshire United States * Covington, Georgia * Covington, Indiana * Covington, Kentucky, the largest American cit ...

. : south of

Social Circle In the social sciences, a social group can be defined as two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively have a sense of unity. Regardless, social groups come in a myriad of sizes and varietie ...

: in

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

. The highways travel concurrently to northeast of Madison. : in

Barnett Barnett is both a surname and a masculine given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname Barnett is an Anglo-Saxon and Old French surname that came after the Norman Invasion The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-c ...

: southeast of Thomson. The highways travel concurrently to Clearwater, South Carolina. : in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Harl ...

: in Augusta : in Augusta. The highways travel concurrently to Clearwater, South Carolina. : in Augusta. The highways travel concurrently to

. ;South Carolina : in North Augusta : in Allendale. The highways travel concurrently through Allendale. : in

: in

. The highways travel concurrently through Hampton. : in Ridgeland. The highways travel concurrently to

. : in

References

External links

U.S. Route 278 in South Carolina (Mapmikey's South Carolina Highways Page)

{{DEFAULTSORT:78-2 United States Numbered Highway System U.S. Highways in Mississippi