Burton, SC to North Charleston, SC is 66.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 30 minutes via US 17, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip primarily within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Given its short duration and mostly highway profile, it's ideal for a single-day journey. You'll want to plan for this drive to be a quick hop rather than an extended exploration, making it perfect for a transitional leg of a larger trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.3 miles from Burton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
48 mi
1h 4m
Trask Parkway
11.6 mi
14m
Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Cosgrove Avenue
2 mi
3m
Parris Island Gateway
0.4 mi
<1m
Rivers Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 48 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burton, SC and North Charleston, SC.
1
Start on US 21
0.4 mi·36 sec·Parris Island Gateway
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
3
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
4
Merge onto US 17
48 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 17
5
Turn left onto SC 7
3.9 mi·6 min·Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
6
Continue on SC 7
2.0 mi·3 min·Cosgrove Avenue
7
Turn right onto US 52; US 78
0.1 mi·11 sec·Rivers Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 78
Trip Plan
With a drive time of only 1 hour 30 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can leave anytime that suits your schedule and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch is 48 miles, you won't need to worry about frequent fuel stops, though it's always wise to top off before departing Burton, SC, especially with an estimated fuel cost of only $10. There are no specific stops recommended in the data, so consider this a direct transit, perhaps best tackled in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic as you approach North Charleston.
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 33.3 miles from Burton, SC, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48 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 15 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.3 miles or 43m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burton, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burton, SC
This is one driving day of about 66.5 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Burton, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 48 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 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 66.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|US 21 / Trask Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto US 21 / Trask Parkway
Navigation decision point
3
12.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
12.5 mi into trip|~16m in|US 17
Merge onto US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
60.5 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
Turn left onto SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 52; US 78 / Rivers Avenue
Turn right onto US 52; US 78 / Rivers Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.40 one way
$20.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$11.37
$22.74
premium
$4.70
$12.31
$24.62
diesel
$5.61
$14.68
$29.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20
0
$6.98
$3.19
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.82
$2.66
EV Truck/SUV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Burton, SC
Late night
in Burton on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Charleston, SC
Late night
in North Charleston on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
SW 9 to 16 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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 warmer 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
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.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 90% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on US 17 and Trask Parkway, which are well-maintained and efficient for covering distance. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving you'll encounter is 48 miles on US 17, offering a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Sam Rittenberg Boulevard will likely be your final approach into North Charleston, providing a more urban highway feel as you near your destination.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Trask Parkway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 21 / Trask Parkway.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Burton, SC to North Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 30m with 90% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 21 / Trask Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.5 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining.
North Charleston is in the Greater Charleston area. It is the third largest city in South Carolina with a lot of muscle in terms of commerce and consumerism.
The longest stretch is about 48 miles on US 17. 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: at 0.4 miles (US 21 / Trask Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 12.5 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 North Charleston, SC before heading back.
