Origin
Charleston, SC
Late night in Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, SC to Red Bank, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
120.9 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Bank, SC
Arthur Shuraev
Trip Overview
This 120.9-mile drive from Charleston, SC to Red Bank, SC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey on major roadways, making it an efficient way to travel within the Southeast region. Your estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $19. With no recommended stops, this drive is designed for straightforward transit, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break it up overnight.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.5 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 109 mi | 2h |
| Two Notch Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| Augusta Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| South Lake Drive | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 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
— 109 mi, about 2h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Red Bank, 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
109 mi
·
2 hr
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 111A
Toward US 1 South: Lexington
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 1
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Augusta Road
11
Turn left onto Kitti Wake Drive
457 ft
·
12 sec
·
Kitti Wake Drive
12
Turn right onto Two Notch Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Two Notch Road
13
Enter roundabout onto Two Notch Road
129 ft
·
3 sec
·
Two Notch Road
14
Continue on Two Notch Road
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Two Notch Road
15
Turn left onto SC 6
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Lake Drive
16
Arrive at destination
SC 6
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 21-minute duration, this route is perfect for a flexible day trip. You can depart Charleston at your leisure, knowing you'll arrive in Red Bank with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch of 109 miles on I 26 means you can settle in for a good portion of the drive, but be mindful of potential traffic as you approach the Charleston area, especially if leaving during peak commuting hours. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $19, and plan for one quick fuel stop if needed, though none are officially recommended.
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 60.5 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 60.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Bank, 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 120.9 miles and 2h 21m.
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 109 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.5 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.1 — 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
111.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 1 South: Lexington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 111A
Toward US 1 South: Lexington
5
116.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
|
Two Notch Road
Enter roundabout onto Two Notch Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.91 one way
$37.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $20.67 | $41.34 |
| premium | $4.70 | $22.38 | $44.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.69 | $53.39 |
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: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.69 | $5.80 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.93 | $7.74 |
Gas CO2
42 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.
Destination
Red Bank, SC
Late night in Red Bank on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Brookdale, SC
60 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
6 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
2h 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 120.9-mile journey. You'll spend a significant 91% of your time on major roads, including I 26 and portions of Augusta Road. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 109 miles on I 26, indicating long periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. While Two Notch Road offers a slight variation, the overall profile is that of a direct, efficient drive rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
91% 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: 109 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Two Notch Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Charleston, SC
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 120.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Red Bank, SC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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