Traveling from Anderson County Airport to Cayce covers 124.9 miles, making this a straightforward journey through the heart of South Carolina. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 35 minutes behind the wheel, which is perfectly manageable as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $20, it is an economical route for a quick getaway or a business commute. Since the drive stays entirely within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent environment as you transition from the Anderson area toward the capital region. Whether you are heading out for a weekend or a quick meeting, this route offers a reliable connection between the two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.5 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
61 mi
1h 7m
Golden Strip Freeway
22.9 mi
24m
Highway 418
9.9 mi
14m
Cooley Bridge Road
5.6 mi
8m
Belton Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Highway 247
3.6 mi
4m
East River Street
2.6 mi
3m
Anderson Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 61 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson County Airport, SC and Cayce, SC.
1
Start on this road
293 ft·21 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Airport Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Airport Road
3
Turn right onto SC 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Highway 24
4
Continue on SC 24
1.0 mi·1 min·West Whitner Street
5
Turn right onto SC 28
2.2 mi·2 min·Highway 28 Bypass
6
Continue on SC 28
0.5 mi·33 sec·Pearman Dairy Road
7
Turn left onto US 29
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Murray Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 29
2.0 mi·2 min·West Shockley Ferry Road
9
Turn right onto US 29; US 76; US 178
2.6 mi·3 min·East River Street
10
Continue on US 76; US 178
4.7 mi·6 min·Belton Highway
11
Continue on US 76; US 178
2.3 mi·3 min·Anderson Street
12
Turn left onto SC 20
374 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
13
Turn right onto SC 247
1.3 mi·2 min·River Street
14
Continue on SC 247
3.6 mi·4 min·Highway 247
15
Continue on SC 247
5.6 mi·8 min·Cooley Bridge Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 25
0.1 mi·13 sec·Augusta Road
17
Turn right onto SC 418
9.9 mi·14 min·Highway 418
18
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi·2 min·Milacron Drive
19
Continue on SC 418
0.2 mi·19 sec·McCarter Road
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
21
Merge onto I 385
23 mi·24 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
22
Merge onto I 26
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
5.2 mi·6 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 113Toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, CayceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on Tarrytown Lane
348 ft·16 sec·Tarrytown Lane
26
Turn sharp left onto SC 302
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Boulevard
27
Turn right onto Glenn Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Glenn Street
28
Turn left onto Middleton Street
165 ft·5 sec·Middleton Street
29
Arrive at destination
Middleton Street
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs during the 2 hour and 35 minute journey. Since the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours on the interstate segments will make the 124.9-mile trip feel much faster. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge when you transition between Highway 418 and the main interstates to ensure you are ready for the longest 61-mile stretch. Because this route is so efficient, you do not need to worry about splitting it into multiple days. Simply pack your essentials, check your tire pressure before leaving the airport, and enjoy the straightforward drive to Cayce.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.5 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cayce, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anderson County Airport, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Anderson County Airport, SC
This is one driving day of about 124.9 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 61 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.3 and 123.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
39.3 mi into trip|~59m in|I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
62.2 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
117.9 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
8
123.1 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, Cayce
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 113
Toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, Cayce
5
123.4 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|SC 302 / Airport Boulevard
Turn sharp left onto SC 302 / Airport Boulevard
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.53 one way
$39.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.36
$42.71
premium
$4.70
$23.12
$46.23
diesel
$5.61
$27.58
$55.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.2
0
$10.93
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.49
$7.99
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Anderson County Airport, SC
Late night
in Anderson County Airport on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cayce, SC
Late night
in Cayce on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 35m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 80% of your time spent on major routes like I-26, the Golden Strip Freeway, and Highway 418. You will encounter a mix of fast-paced interstate driving and local highway segments that help you navigate the landscape efficiently. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 61 miles on I-26, where you can settle into a steady rhythm. The road's personality is functional and direct, shifting from the suburban character of the Golden Strip to the more open stretches of the interstate. Expect a practical driving experience that favors speed and connectivity over winding backroads.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 39.3 miles in near I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 124.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 39.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.9 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Anderson County Airport, SC to Cayce, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
117.9 mi in|~2h 24m|via I 26
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 124.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cayce, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 117.9 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cayce, SC before heading back.
