Traveling from Andrews to Charleston covers a modest 59.2 miles, making this a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day. You can expect to spend approximately 1 hour and 16 minutes behind the wheel, navigating through the Southeast landscape. With a fuel budget of just $9, this trip is highly economical for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Since the route consists of local roads rather than major interstates, you have the flexibility to head out for a day trip without needing to plan for an overnight stay. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that connects two distinct South Carolina communities efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.5 miles from Andrews, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17 Alternate
28 mi
40m
South Morgan Avenue
13.2 mi
19m
US 17
9.6 mi
15m
SC 41
5.5 mi
9m
East Bay Street
0.8 mi
1m
Meeting Street
0.7 mi
1m
Morrison Drive
0.5 mi
1m
Calhoun Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 17 Alternate
— 28 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Andrews, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on US 521 Bus
34 ft·5 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto SC 41 Bus
13 mi·19 min·South Morgan Avenue
3
Continue on US 17 Alternate; SC 41
28 mi·40 min·US 17 Alternate; SC 41
4
At end of road, turn left onto SC 41
0.8 mi·1 min·SC 41
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on SC 41
4.7 mi·7 min·SC 41
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
7
Merge onto US 17
9.6 mi·15 min·US 17
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 52 Bus
0.5 mi·1 min·Morrison Drive
10
Turn straight onto East Bay Street
0.8 mi·1 min·East Bay Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Calhoun Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Calhoun Street
12
Turn left onto S-10-107
0.7 mi·1 min·Meeting Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
14
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 1-hour and 16-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the trip is brief enough to tackle without formal stops, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is a good habit, even with the low $9 projected cost. Since you are navigating local roads like Morrison Drive and East Bay Street, stay alert for changing speed limits and local traffic patterns as you approach the city. Prioritize leaving early if you want to maximize your time in Charleston, as the lack of highway miles means your arrival time will depend entirely on local traffic flow. Enjoy the ease of a route that allows you to reach your destination quickly without the stress of high-speed interstate merging.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 29.5 miles from Andrews, SC, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28 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 13 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.5 miles or 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Andrews, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Andrews, SC
This is one driving day of about 59 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Andrews, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 Alternate for about 28 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 58.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 41 Bus / South Morgan Avenue
Turn left onto SC 41 Bus / South Morgan Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
41.2 mi into trip|~59m in|SC 41
At end of road, turn left onto SC 41
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
46.8 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|US 17
Merge onto US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
56.4 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street
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.
Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street
6
58.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Turn left onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.23 one way
$18.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$10.09
$20.18
premium
$4.70
$10.92
$21.84
diesel
$5.61
$13.03
$26.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17.7
0
$6.19
$2.83
Efficient EV
14.8
0
$5.16
$2.36
EV Truck/SUV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Andrews, SC
Late night
in Andrews on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charleston, SC
Late night
in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
3:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
28 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
1h 30m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than cruising on a monotonous highway. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend the entire 59.2 miles navigating surface streets and secondary roads. Your path relies on South Morgan Avenue, Morrison Drive, and East Bay Street to guide you into the heart of Charleston. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of interstate, the pace remains steady and technical rather than fast-moving. You will notice the character of the road shift as you transition from the quiet surroundings of Andrews into the busier, more complex street grid of the city.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28 mi on US 17 Alternate.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 Alternate and South Morgan Avenue. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 41 Bus / South Morgan Avenue.
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 59 miles you will encounter 9 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 41 Bus / South Morgan Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 41.2 miles (SC 41): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 59 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28 miles on US 17 Alternate. 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 41 Bus / South Morgan Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 41.2 miles (SC 41): Lane positioning matters here; at 46.8 miles (US 17): 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 Charleston, SC before heading back.
