This straightforward 85.5-mile drive from Charleston, SC, to Saint Matthews, SC, is designed for efficiency, taking about 1 hour and 42 minutes. It's a solid choice for a day trip, easily manageable without an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on I 26, with Saint Matthews Road and Harry C Raysor Drive forming the final approach. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an economical option. This highway-focused journey through the Southeast region is all about getting you to your destination smoothly and without fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
74.8 mi
1h 23m
Saint Matthews Road
7 mi
10m
Harry C Raysor Drive
0.8 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
Spring Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 74.8 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Saint Matthews, 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
75 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 145Toward US 601: Orangeburg, St. Matthews
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 145Toward US 601 North: St. Matthews
11
Turn straight onto US 601
7.0 mi·10 min·Saint Matthews Road
12
Continue on US 601
0.8 mi·1 min·Harry C Raysor Drive
13
Turn left onto SC 6
292 ft·11 sec·Bridge Street
14
Turn right
28 ft·2 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 42-minute duration of this 85.5-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility for departure times. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the peak Charleston commute and arrive in Saint Matthews with ample daylight. With no designated stops in the data, you can easily plan your own brief breaks if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on I 26 is over 70 miles, and it’s always wise to fuel up before embarking on such a segment. The estimated fuel cost of $13 suggests you won't need to budget heavily for gas.
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 42.7 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.8 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Matthews, 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 85.5 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 74.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 77.5 — 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
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.
6
77.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 601: Orangeburg, St. Matthews
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 145
Toward US 601: Orangeburg, St. Matthews
7
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 601 North: St. Matthews
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 145
Toward US 601 North: St. Matthews
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.37 one way
$26.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.62
$29.24
premium
$4.70
$15.82
$31.65
diesel
$5.61
$18.88
$37.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$8.98
$4.10
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.48
$3.42
EV Truck/SUV
34.2
0
$11.97
$5.47
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Charleston, SC
Afternoon
in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Matthews, SC
Afternoon
in Saint Matthews on Sunday
Local time
4:20 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Summerville, SC
43 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
1h 42m 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.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 85.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience, with an impressive 88% of the drive taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 74.8 miles on I 26, meaning you'll have ample opportunity to settle into a steady pace. While the majority of the route is focused on efficient travel, the final segments on local roads like Saint Matthews Road and Harry C Raysor Drive will introduce a change of pace as you enter Saint Matthews. This highway-focused profile prioritizes directness over varied scenery.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 74.8 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Saint Matthews Road. 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 85.5 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
Mostly flat terrain
342 ft11 ft
Total Climb
413 ft
Total Descent
139 ft
Highest Point
342 ft
~79.4 mi in
Elevation Range
332 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 Saint Matthews, SC, road signs begin pointing toward St. Matthews 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 85.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m 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 74.8 miles on I 26. 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 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 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 Saint Matthews, SC before heading back.
