Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 7m
Distance
257.7 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anderson County Airport, SC
Jimmy Liao
Port Royal, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Anderson County Airport, SC to Port Royal, SC is 257.7 miles and takes about 5h 7m via I 26 and I 95, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, connecting the Upstate region to the Lowcountry. Given it's mostly highway driving, you can expect a fairly straightforward trip, ideal for a single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost is around $40, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.8 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 116 mi | 2h 7m |
| I 95 | 46.9 mi | 50m |
| Golden Strip Freeway | 22.9 mi | 24m |
| Trask Parkway | 18.1 mi | 22m |
| Highway 418 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Cooley Bridge Road | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| Parris Island Gateway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Belton Highway | 4.7 mi | 6m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 86 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,040 veh/hr typical · worst 2,715
Quietest
2 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson County Airport, SC and Port Royal, SC.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Airport Road
Turn right onto SC 24
Continue on SC 24
Turn right onto SC 28
Continue on SC 28
Turn left onto US 29
Turn right onto US 29
Turn right onto US 29; US 76; US 178
Continue on US 76; US 178
Continue on US 76; US 178
Turn left onto SC 20
Turn right onto SC 247
Continue on SC 247
Continue on SC 247
At end of road, turn left onto US 25
Turn right onto SC 418
Continue on SC 418
Continue on SC 418
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 385
Merge onto I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto SC 68
Turn slight right onto SC 68
Turn right onto US 17 Alt; US 21
Merge onto US 17; US 21
Take the exit onto US 21
Merge onto US 21
Turn right onto US 21
Continue on US 21
Continue on US 21
Turn right onto Paris Avenue
Arrive at destination
Consider leaving early in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of lighter traffic. With a total drive time of just over 5 hours, this trip is easily manageable in one day, offering flexibility in your departure time. The longest stretch without a major change is 116 miles on I 26, so plan your first fuel stop before or early in that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Port Royal, though the $40 budget should cover the 257.7 miles.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 57 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Royal, SC than in the middle of the route.
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 257.7 miles and 5h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 128.8 miles from Anderson County Airport, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 39.3 and 226.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$39.49 one way
$78.97 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $43.33 | $86.66 |
| premium | $4.64 | $47.05 | $94.09 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $56.81 | $113.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.06 | $12.37 |
| Efficient EV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.55 | $10.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.1 | 1 | $36.08 | $16.49 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Anderson County Airport on Wednesday
Local time
3:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Destination
Late night in Port Royal on Wednesday
Local time
3:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
86°F
Rock Hill, SC
129 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly highway, with 87% of the drive on interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 116 miles on I 26 before transitioning to other major roads. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent exits as you navigate through various sections of the state.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.3 miles in near I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 257.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
179 ft
Total Descent
913 ft
Highest Point
839 ft
~18.4 mi in
Elevation Range
816 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Anderson County Airport, SC and Port Royal, SC, road signs point toward Charleston and Yemassee.
Charleston
Yemassee
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 7m. Total distance: 257.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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