Traveling from Bluffton to Forest Acres covers 150.1 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. Because this is a straightforward, highway-focused drive within the Southeast region of South Carolina, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $24 for fuel to complete the journey. By sticking primarily to I-95 and I-26, you will find a direct path that makes travel between these two areas efficient. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this route offers a predictable commute that requires little more than a few hours of your time.
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
75.1 miles from Bluffton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
57.2 mi
1h 1m
I 26
52.2 mi
56m
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.4 mi
12m
Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
10m
Fording Island Road
5.6 mi
7m
Okatie Highway
3.9 mi
4m
South Beltline Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
Veterans Memorial Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 57.2 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and Forest Acres, SC.
1
Start on Bruin Road
87 ft·5 sec·Bruin Road
2
Turn right onto SC 46
0.9 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
3
Enter roundabout onto SC 46
170 ft·3 sec·Bluffton Road
4
Continue on SC 46
0.8 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
5
Turn left onto US 278
5.6 mi·7 min·Fording Island Road
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft·4 sec
8
Merge onto SC 170
3.9 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
9
Take the exit
488 ft·13 sec
10
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
11
Continue on SC 462
9.4 mi·12 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
13
Merge onto I 95; US 17
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 95; US 17
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
15
Merge onto I 26
52 mi·56 min·I 26
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 116Toward I 77: CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 77
2.4 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Freeway
18
Continue on I 77
1.8 mi·2 min·William Earle Berne Beltway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Exit 5Toward SC 48: Bluff Road, GadsdenUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto SC 48
0.3 mi·33 sec·Bluff Road
21
Turn right onto SC 768
3.5 mi·6 min·South Beltline Boulevard
22
Turn left onto Crosshill Road
304 ft·6 sec·Crosshill Road
23
Turn straight onto SC 16
1.7 mi·3 min·Beltline Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Arrive at destination
SC 16
Trip Plan
Since the total duration is under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. You only need to account for one stop, which is easily managed during the 150.1-mile trek. To make the most of your time, consider fueling up before you hit the main highways to avoid potential price fluctuations at busy interstate stations. Staying alert during the 57.2-mile stretch on I-95 is key, as the monotony of interstate driving can set in quickly. Use that single planned stop as a chance to stretch your legs, ensuring you arrive in Forest Acres feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57.2 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.1 miles or 1h 29m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Acres, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC
This is one driving day of about 150.1 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Bluffton, 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 95 for about 57.2 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 144.1 — 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 46 / Bluffton Road
Turn right onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Enter roundabout onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
7.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward I 77: Charlotte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 116
Toward I 77: Charlotte
8
144.1 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward SC 48: Bluff Road, Gadsden
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward SC 48: Bluff Road, Gadsden
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.47 one way
$46.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.66
$51.33
premium
$4.70
$27.78
$55.56
diesel
$5.61
$33.14
$66.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45
0
$15.76
$7.20
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
EV Truck/SUV
60
0
$21.01
$9.61
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Bluffton, SC
Late night
in Bluffton on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Forest Acres, SC
Late night
in Forest Acres on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
2 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
2h 56m 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.
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
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 124.2
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 20.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as 74% of the route consists of highway driving. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the interstate, including a longest stretch of 57.2 miles on I-95. The journey begins with the local flavor of Coosaw Scenic Drive before transitioning into the heavy-duty interstate corridors that define much of the trip. While the road is mostly a functional grind, the shift from local roads to major arteries keeps the driving experience varied. You will find that the rhythm of the trip is fast-paced, allowing you to cover the distance quickly once you reach the highway.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.2 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 46 / Bluffton Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 150.1 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: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Bluffton is a fast-growing coastal city in the Low Country of South Carolina located 7 miles (12 km) west of the major southeastern United States resort town of Hilton Head Island.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 150.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.2 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Forest Acres, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Forest Acres, SC before heading back.
