Charleston, SC to Hopkins, SC is 122.1 miles and takes about 2h 24m via I 26, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Southeast region, starting in South Carolina and ending in South Carolina. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward journey for anyone looking to cover ground efficiently. Given the relatively short duration and highway nature, this route is best suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
103.9 mi
1h 54m
William Earle Berne Beltway
5 mi
6m
Garners Ferry Road
3.5 mi
4m
Old Hopkins Road
2.9 mi
6m
Veterans Memorial Freeway
2.4 mi
2m
Meeting Street
0.7 mi
1m
Septima Clark Expressway
0.6 mi
1m
King Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 103.9 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,050 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,551
Quietest
2 AM
~239 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
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 Hopkins, 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
104 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 116Toward I 77: CharlotteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 77
2.4 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Freeway
11
Continue on I 77
5.0 mi·6 min·William Earle Berne Beltway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Exit 9A-BToward US 76, US 378, SC 262: Garners Ferry Road, Leesburg RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 9 AToward US 76, US 378: Garners Ferry Road, SumterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn right onto US 76; US 378
3.5 mi·4 min·Garners Ferry Road
Use the right lane.
15
Take the exit
255 ft·7 sec
16
Turn straight onto State Highway 222
0.4 mi·55 sec·State Highway 222
17
Continue on Old Hopkins Road
2.9 mi·6 min·Old Hopkins Road
18
At end of road, turn right onto Lower Richland Boulevard
0.1 mi·16 sec·Lower Richland Boulevard
19
Arrive at destination
Lower Richland Boulevard
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just under 2.5 hours, this is a perfect route for a same-day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave Charleston in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. The fuel cost is estimated at $19, so ensure your tank is full before you head out. Since the longest stretch on I 26 is over 100 miles, plan for a brief stop for fuel or a quick break before or after this segment to keep your energy levels up.
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 61 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.9 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 10m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hopkins, 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 122.1 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 103.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114.9 — 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.
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
106.4 mi into trip|~2h 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
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 76, US 378, SC 262: Garners Ferry Road, Leesburg Road
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 9A-B
Toward US 76, US 378, SC 262: Garners Ferry Roa...
10
114.9 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 76, US 378: Garners Ferry Road, Sumter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9 A
Toward US 76, US 378: Garners Ferry Road, Sumte...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.42 one way
$38.84 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$21.18
$42.35
premium
$4.78
$22.97
$45.95
diesel
$5.35
$25.72
$51.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.6
0
$12.82
$5.86
Efficient EV
30.5
0
$10.68
$4.88
EV Truck/SUV
48.8
0
$17.09
$7.81
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 May 29, 2026
Origin
Charleston, SC
Evening
in Charleston on Wednesday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 2 to 12 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 29 at 11:05AM EDT until May 30 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
Destination
Hopkins, SC
Evening
in Hopkins on Wednesday
Local time
7:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 0 to 6 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued May 29 at 11:05AM EDT until May 30 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
90°F
Brookdale, SC
61 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
4 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 24m 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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 122.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of the route utilizing major highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 26, which forms the backbone of this journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 103.9 miles on I 26, meaning you can settle in for a good period of consistent driving. While the majority is high-speed highway, the latter part of the drive may involve segments on Garners Ferry Road as you approach Hopkins.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and William Earle Berne Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.
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 13 significant decision points across 122.1 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 (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
305 ft11 ft
Total Climb
348 ft
Total Descent
190 ft
Highest Point
305 ft
~87.2 mi in
Elevation Range
295 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Charleston, SC to Hopkins, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Sumter along the way.
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 2h 24m. Total distance: 122.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.9 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 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.
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 Hopkins, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National 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 Hopkins, SC before heading back.
