Bennettsville, SC to Aiken, SC is 155 miles and takes about 3 hours 5 minutes via I 20 and US 15, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within South Carolina, taking you from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. Plan for a drive that prioritizes efficient travel over extensive sightseeing.
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
77.6 miles from Bennettsville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
108 mi
2h 1m
North Governor Williams Highway
14.3 mi
16m
US 15
12.3 mi
17m
Lamar Highway
9.7 mi
14m
Columbia Highway North
6 mi
6m
York Street Northeast
2.1 mi
2m
West Main Street
1.9 mi
3m
Richland Avenue East
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 108 mi, about 2h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bennettsville, SC and Aiken, SC.
1
Start on West Market Street
254 ft·17 sec·West Market Street
2
Turn left onto North Liberty Street
330 ft·18 sec·North Liberty Street
3
Turn right onto SC 385; SC 9 Business; SC 38 Business
1.9 mi·3 min·West Main Street
4
Turn straight onto US 15; US 401
12 mi·17 min·US 15; US 401
5
Continue on US 52; US 401
14 mi·16 min·North Governor Williams Highway
6
Turn right onto US 401
4.6 mi·6 min·Lamar Highway
7
Enter roundabout onto US 401
135 ft·2 sec·Lamar Highway
8
Continue on US 401
5.1 mi·8 min·Lamar Highway
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
10
Merge onto I 20
108 mi·2 hr 1 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 22Toward US 1: Aiken
12
Turn straight onto US 1
6.0 mi·6 min·Columbia Highway North
13
Continue on US 1
2.1 mi·2 min·York Street Northeast
14
Turn right onto US 1; US 78
372 ft·8 sec·Richland Avenue East
15
Turn left onto SC 19
235 ft·13 sec·Chesterfield Street South
16
Arrive at destination
SC 19
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 3-hour drive, consider leaving in the morning to maximize daylight and flexibility. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $24, you won't need to over-plan for extensive breaks. The longest stretch is 108 miles on I 20, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration of highway driving before departing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition off I 20, as services might be less frequent on the secondary roads like US 15.
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 77.6 miles from Bennettsville, SC, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108 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 34 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.6 miles or 1h 37m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aiken, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bennettsville, 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 Bennettsville, SC
This is one driving day of about 155.3 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Bennettsville, 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 20 for about 108 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 146.7 — 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|North Liberty Street
Turn left onto North Liberty Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 385; SC 9 Business; SC 38 Business / West Main Street
Turn right onto SC 385; SC 9 Business; SC 38 Business / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
28.6 mi into trip|~37m in|US 401 / Lamar Highway
Turn right onto US 401 / Lamar Highway
Navigation decision point
5
38.8 mi into trip|~53m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
146.7 mi into trip|~2h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Aiken
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 22
Toward US 1: Aiken
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.29 one way
$48.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.55
$53.11
premium
$4.70
$28.74
$57.49
diesel
$5.61
$34.29
$68.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.6
0
$16.31
$7.45
Efficient EV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
EV Truck/SUV
62.1
0
$21.74
$9.94
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Bennettsville, SC
Morning
in Bennettsville on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Aiken, SC
Morning
in Aiken on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Camden, SC
78 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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
3h 5m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip covers 155 miles, with 77% on highways, meaning you'll be on interstate or major highway for a significant portion. Expect a continuous stretch of 108 miles on I 20, offering a consistent cruising experience. The transition to North Governor Williams Highway and US 15 will introduce more surface road driving as you approach your destination, likely with more frequent local traffic and intersections.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and North Governor Williams Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Liberty Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bennettsville, SC to Aiken, SC is easy. At 3h 5m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Liberty Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SC 385; SC 9 Business; SC 38 Business / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.6 miles (US 401 / Lamar Highway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 155.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 108 miles on I 20. 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.
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 (North Liberty Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SC 385; SC 9 Business; SC 38 Business / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.6 miles (US 401 / Lamar Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Aiken, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
