Anderson County Airport, SC to Oak Grove, SC is 140.1 miles and takes about 2h 51m via I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This single-day trip stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. It’s a straightforward drive that primarily uses major roadways, making it a practical option for getting between these two points efficiently. Plan for a smooth journey with minimal complications, ideal for a quick transit.
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
70 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
76.5 mi
1h 25m
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
— 76.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 35 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,197 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,890
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson County Airport, SC and Oak Grove, 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
21 mi·23 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 21
25
Turn left onto US 21
1.1 mi·1 min·US 21
26
Turn slight right onto Stabler Hill Road
97 ft·4 sec·Stabler Hill Road
27
Arrive at destination
Stabler Hill Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 3 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak traffic and arrive in Oak Grove with plenty of afternoon daylight. The longest stretch without a major break is 76.5 miles on I 26, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $22, it's an economical choice for a quick transit.
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 70 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.5 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 31 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70 miles or 1h 32m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Grove, 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 140.1 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 76.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.8 and 117.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
16.8 mi into trip|~25m in|SC 20 / North Main Street
Turn left onto SC 20 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.9 mi into trip|~25m in|SC 247 / River Street
Turn right onto SC 247 / River Street
Navigation decision point
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.28 one way
$44.57 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$24.30
$48.59
premium
$4.78
$26.36
$52.72
diesel
$5.35
$29.51
$59.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.26
$5.60
EV Truck/SUV
56
0
$19.61
$8.97
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Anderson County Airport, SC
Afternoon
in Anderson County Airport on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 0 to 5 mph43% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Oak Grove, SC
Afternoon
in Oak Grove on Wednesday
Local time
3:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 3 mph39% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Congaree National Park
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 140.1
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 83% of it on major roads like I 26 and the Golden Strip Freeway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 76.5 miles on I 26, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, expect some transitions onto other primary state routes like Highway 418. The feel is largely one of steady progress, with the character shifting slightly as you move between these different, but still significant, roadways.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.5 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in near SC 20 / North Main Street.
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 140.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 16.8 miles (SC 20 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.9 miles (SC 247 / River Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
822 ft212 ft
Total Climb
391 ft
Total Descent
807 ft
Highest Point
822 ft
~40 mi in
Elevation Range
610 ft
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 Oak Grove, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 140.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.5 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Oak Grove, 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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (SC 20 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.9 miles (SC 247 / River Street): Navigation decision point; at 39.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oak Grove, SC before heading back.
