Charleston to Duncan is 207.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 59 minutes via I 26, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, connecting the Southeast region. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on the interstate, making it a good option if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently without much fuss. With a duration under four hours, it’s easily manageable as a same-day trip, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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
103.7 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
191.9 mi
3h 30m
Moore Duncan Highway
6.2 mi
9m
East Main Street
5.8 mi
11m
Highway 221
0.9 mi
1m
Meeting Street
0.7 mi
1m
Septima Clark Expressway
0.6 mi
1m
King Street
0.6 mi
1m
Coming Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 191.9 mi, about 3h 30m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 81 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,686 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,221
Quietest
2 AM
~209 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Duncan, 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
0.1 mi·15 sec·Calhoun Street
4
Turn right onto S-10-104
0.6 mi·1 min·King Street
5
Turn left onto Spring Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Spring Street
6
Turn right onto Coming Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Coming Street
7
Turn right onto US 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Septima Clark Expressway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26
168 mi·3 hr 5 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
24 mi·25 min·I 26
Toward SpartanburgUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 28Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, MooreUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight left
95 ft·2 sec
12
Turn left onto US 221
0.9 mi·1 min·Highway 221
13
Turn right onto SC 290
6.2 mi·9 min·Moore Duncan Highway
14
Continue on SC 290
5.8 mi·11 min·East Main Street
15
Turn left onto South Spencer Street
126 ft·3 sec·South Spencer Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Spencer Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 59 minute drive time, leaving Charleston in the morning should allow you to reach Duncan with plenty of daylight to spare. The route is mostly highway, so plan for a single fuel stop if needed, keeping in mind the estimated $35 fuel cost. The longest stretch on I 26 is nearly 200 miles, so consider a brief stop before that segment to ensure you're comfortable. As this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart later if your schedule allows.
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 103.7 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191.9 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 46 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.7 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Duncan, 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.
+
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 Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 207.5 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Charleston, 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 26 for about 191.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 194.3 — 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
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|Coming Street
Turn right onto Coming Street
Navigation decision point
6
2.4 mi into trip|~5m in|I 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 26
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
170.8 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Spartanburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Spartanburg
8
194.3 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore
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 28
Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.63 one way
$61.27 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$33.67
$67.33
premium
$4.49
$36.70
$73.39
diesel
$4.80
$39.18
$78.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.3
0
$21.79
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.05
$13.28
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Charleston, SC
Morning
in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Clear
SW 13 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:48PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:26PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Destination
Duncan, SC
Morning
in Duncan on Sunday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
WSW 5 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:48PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:26PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
73°F
Saint Andrews, SC
104 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
9 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 59m 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.
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...
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...
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 200.3
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 highway driving, with 93% of the 207.5 miles spent on interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 191.9 miles on I 26 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a significant number of exits and merges as you navigate this primarily interstate corridor. The final leg will involve local roads, including Moore Duncan Highway and East Main Street, as you approach Duncan.
93% 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: 191.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Moore Duncan Highway. You will hit about 10 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 207.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
854 ft11 ft
Total Climb
1,062 ft
Total Descent
219 ft
Highest Point
854 ft
~207.5 mi in
Elevation Range
843 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charleston, SC and Duncan, SC, road signs point toward Spartanburg and Moore.
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.
Top landmarks
•Fort Sumter — fort in Charleston, South Carolina
•College of Charleston — liberal arts college in Charleston, South Carolina, USA
•Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church — church in Charleston, South Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 207.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 191.9 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Congaree National Park and Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Duncan, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
