Origin
Anderson, SC
Late night in Anderson on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Anderson, SC to Greenville, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
29.8 mi
48 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Anderson, SC
Junior Bastos
Trip Overview
This short, 29.8-mile drive from Anderson, SC to Greenville, SC is easily manageable as a day trip, taking around 45 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-85, US-29, and Highway 81 North, with 86% of the journey being highway driving. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $5, this route is budget-friendly for a quick hop within the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive that doesn't require an overnight stay, offering a convenient way to travel between these two South Carolina cities. The focus is on efficient travel rather than extensive sightseeing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| US 29 | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| Highway 81 North | 4.8 mi | 7m |
| East Greenville Street | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 81 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highway 81 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Whitner Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 13.9 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson, SC and Greenville, SC.
1
Start on East Whitner Street
31 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Whitner Street
2
Turn right onto SC 28 Business
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 29 Business; SC 81
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
East Greenville Street
4
Continue on SC 81
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 81 North
5
Continue on SC 81
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 81
6
Continue on SC 81
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Highway 81
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
8
Merge onto I 85
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 29
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 29
Exit 42
Toward I 185 North, US 29, I 185 Toll South: Downtown, Greenville, Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29
5.6 mi
·
10 min
·
US 29
Toward I 185 North, US 29 North: Greenville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Arrive at destination
US 29
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 28 Business / North Main Street
Turn right onto SC 28 Business / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 29 Business; SC 81 / East Greenville Street
Turn right onto US 29 Business; SC 81 / East Greenville Street
Navigation decision point
5
10 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
24 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 29
Take the exit onto US 29 toward I 185 North, US 29, I 185 Toll South: Downtown, Greenville, Columbia
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 42
Toward I 185 North, US 29, I 185 Toll South: Do...
8
24.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 29 toward I 185 North, US 29 North: Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 185 North, US 29 North: Greenville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.66 one way
$9.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.10 | $10.19 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.52 | $11.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.58 | $13.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.61 | $1.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Greenville, SC
Late night in Greenville on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
45m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 45-minute trip. With 86% of the drive on interstates and major highways, you'll encounter predominantly fast-paced travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 13.9 miles on I-85, allowing for sustained cruising. While the route is primarily highway, you'll transition between I-85, US-29, and Highway 81 North, offering slight variations in the driving environment. This drive is characterized by its efficiency and directness, rather than winding scenic byways.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.9 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and US 29. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 28 Business / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 45m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 28 Business / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 29 Business; SC 81 / East Greenville Street): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
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, SC to Greenville, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
Columbia
24 mi in
|
~34m
|
via US 29
About the Cities
Starting in Anderson, SC
Full guide →Anderson is a county and city in the Upcountry of South Carolina. The city of Anderson had a population of 27,545 in 2016 with an urban area population of 75,702. Anderson County had a population of 194,692 in 2016. The city of Anderson serves as one of the three primary cities in the Upcountry of South Carolina, the others being Spartanburg and Greenville.
Arriving in Greenville, SC
Full guide →Founded 1831
Greenville has been described as Athens, Georgia for adults. It is the county seat and largest city of Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. Greenville is also the center of the largest metropolitan area of South Carolina. Columbia, Charleston, and North Charleston have more people, but the urban area around Greenville is larger. With its historic homes and modern office towers, Greenville is said to be where "Old South" meets "New South".
Top landmarks
- • Reedy River Falls Historic Park and Greenway — Park in Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.A.
- • Poinsett Hotel — Historic hotel in Greenville, South Carolina
- • Greenville County Museum of Art — art museum in Greenville, South Carolina
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 29.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.9 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 28 Business / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 29 Business; SC 81 / East Greenville Street): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Greenville, SC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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