If you are planning a quick getaway from Charleston to Beaufort, you are looking at a manageable 70.9-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes. This route is an ideal candidate for a simple day trip, allowing you to head out in the morning and reach your destination with plenty of time to explore. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the journey, making it a very budget-friendly excursion within the Southeast region. Because both cities share the same regional character, the transition between them feels like a natural progression through the South Carolina Lowcountry. Whether you are traveling for a weekend change of scenery or a quick visit, this drive is short enough that you will not need to worry about overnight logistics.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.4 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Savannah Highway
28.8 mi
41m
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi
22m
Trask Parkway
12 mi
14m
Charleston Highway
5.6 mi
7m
Boundary Street
3 mi
4m
SC 61
1.2 mi
2m
Calhoun Street
1 mi
1m
Meeting Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 28.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Beaufort, SC.
1
Start on Broad Street
40 ft·5 sec·Broad Street
2
Turn right onto S-10-107
0.7 mi·1 min·Meeting Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn left onto Calhoun Street
1.0 mi·1 min·Calhoun Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn straight onto James Island Expressway
0.5 mi·37 sec·James Island Expressway
Toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
5
Take the exit onto SC 61
1.2 mi·2 min·SC 61
Exit 1Toward SC 61: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto Wesley Drive
0.1 mi·13 sec·Wesley Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto US 17
29 mi·41 min·Savannah Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
9
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
11
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft·2 sec·Trask Parkway
12
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
13
Continue on US 21
3.0 mi·4 min·Boundary Street
14
Continue on US 21 Business
0.5 mi·54 sec·Carteret Street
15
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
39 ft·1 sec·Port Republic Street
16
Arrive at destination
Port Republic Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You won't need to plan for any major stops along the way, but keeping your fuel budget of $11 in mind ensures you can top off your tank before leaving Charleston. Given that there are zero mandatory stops listed for this route, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to build in rest breaks. To make the most of your time, try to avoid peak traffic hours when transitioning onto the highway sections. Keeping a steady pace on the 28.8-mile stretch of Savannah Highway will help you maintain your estimated arrival time effectively.
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 35.4 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.8 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 51m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charleston, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 70.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 28.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 3.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Calhoun Street
Turn left onto Calhoun Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|SC 61
Take the exit onto SC 61 toward SC 61: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward SC 61: Summerville
6
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|Wesley Drive
Turn left onto Wesley Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|US 17 / Savannah Highway
Turn right onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.09 one way
$22.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.12
$24.25
premium
$4.70
$13.12
$26.24
diesel
$5.61
$15.65
$31.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.3
0
$7.44
$3.40
Efficient EV
17.7
0
$6.20
$2.84
EV Truck/SUV
28.4
0
$9.93
$4.54
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Charleston, SC
Late night
in Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Clear
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Beaufort, SC
Late night
in Beaufort on Tuesday
Local time
4:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
25 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 38m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate the 43% highway portion of your journey. You will spend the bulk of your time on Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Trask Parkway, which collectively offer a blend of roadway types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 28.8 miles on Savannah Highway, giving you a good chance to settle into a steady pace. Because this is a mixed drive, the road conditions shift as you transition between larger thoroughfares and local parkways. Staying alert is key, as the character of the road changes periodically, requiring you to adjust your driving style throughout the 1-hour and 38-minute transit.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.8 mi on Savannah Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 S-10-107 / Meeting 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 70.9 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 (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Calhoun Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (SC 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Charleston is the largest and oldest city in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America. Its historic downtown is on a peninsula formed by two rivers, the Ashley and the Cooper, flowing into the Atlantic, and protected from the open ocean by surrounding islands. Charleston was captured in the American Civil War without much property damage, so the historic part of town has buildings that are hundreds of years old. The current downtown skyline, with practically no tall buildings due to the city's height restriction ordinance, is dominated by church steeples and the stunning Arthur Ravenel cable-stay bridge over the Cooper River. The city is a major port on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and a popular destination for domestic and international tourists.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 70.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.8 miles on Savannah Highway. 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 (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Calhoun Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (SC 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Beaufort, SC before heading back.
