Anderson, SC to Ladson, SC is 208.9 miles and takes about 4h 3m via I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Plan for a quick and efficient transit between these two points.
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
104.5 miles from Anderson, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
150.8 mi
2h 45m
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
East River Street
3.9 mi
5m
Highway 247
3.6 mi
4m
Anderson Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 150.8 mi, about 2h 45m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,170 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,794
Quietest
1 AM
~194 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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, SC and Ladson, SC.
1
Start on East Whitner Street
31 ft·8 sec·East Whitner Street
2
Turn left onto SC 28 Business
0.2 mi·34 sec·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 76; US 178
3.9 mi·5 min·East River Street
4
Continue on US 76; US 178
4.7 mi·6 min·Belton Highway
5
Continue on US 76; US 178
2.3 mi·3 min·Anderson Street
6
Turn left onto SC 20
374 ft·14 sec·North Main Street
7
Turn right onto SC 247
1.3 mi·2 min·River Street
8
Continue on SC 247
3.6 mi·4 min·Highway 247
9
Continue on SC 247
5.6 mi·8 min·Cooley Bridge Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 25
0.1 mi·13 sec·Augusta Road
11
Turn right onto SC 418
9.9 mi·14 min·Highway 418
12
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi·2 min·Milacron Drive
13
Continue on SC 418
0.2 mi·19 sec·McCarter Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
15
Merge onto I 385
23 mi·24 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 26
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
95 mi·1 hr 43 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 203Toward College Park Road, LadsonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto College Park Road
0.8 mi·1 min·College Park Road
20
Turn right onto Ladson Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Ladson Road
21
Turn right onto Stoney Road
37 ft·1 sec·Stoney Road
22
Arrive at destination
Stoney Road
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Consider topping off your fuel before you leave Anderson, as the estimated $32 cost is based on the entire 208.9 miles. The longest continuous stretch is over 150 miles on I 26, so ensure you're comfortable with extended highway driving before you depart.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 104.5 miles from Anderson, SC, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.8 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 46 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.5 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladson, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Anderson, 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, SC
This is one driving day of about 208.9 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Anderson, 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 150.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 207.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 28 Business / South Main Street
Turn left onto SC 28 Business / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
33.5 mi into trip|~50m 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
56.4 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
112.2 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
207.2 mi into trip|~4h in
Take the exit toward College Park Road, Ladson
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 203
Toward College Park Road, Ladson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.19 one way
$66.37 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$36.19
$72.37
premium
$4.78
$39.31
$78.63
diesel
$6.18
$50.82
$101.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.7
0
$21.93
$10.03
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.28
$8.36
EV Truck/SUV
83.6
1
$29.25
$13.37
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Anderson, SC
Morning
in Anderson on Tuesday
Local time
8:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
NE 7 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 2:20AM EDT until October 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:15AM EDT until October 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Destination
Ladson, SC
Morning
in Ladson on Tuesday
Local time
8:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Sunny
N 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 19 at 2:20AM EDT until October 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:15AM EDT until October 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 3m on the road
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.
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 136.9
Caution: Being Prepared for Excessive Heat & Humidity
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
$10
near mile 208.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly on the highway, with 90% of the 208.9 miles utilizing major roadways like I 26. You'll encounter a substantial stretch of 150.8 miles on I 26, indicating long, uninterrupted highway cruising. Expect a significant number of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach more populated areas, particularly as you get closer to your destination.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.8 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 28 Business / South Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 208.9 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (SC 28 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.5 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
817 ft47 ft
Total Climb
203 ft
Total Descent
948 ft
Highest Point
817 ft
~29.8 mi in
Elevation Range
770 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, SC to Ladson, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Anderson Downtown Historic District — historic district in Anderson, South Carolina
•Anderson Historic District — historic district in Anderson, South Carolina
•North Anderson Historic District — historic district in Anderson, South Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 208.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 150.8 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 28 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.5 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Ladson, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
