Connecting Chester to Florence, this 110.6-mile trek across South Carolina is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 21 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, it works perfectly as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel, making this an economical excursion through the Southeast. The route primarily relies on Lancaster Highway, Pageland Highway, and the State Hwy 151 Bypass to navigate the local landscape. Since you are staying within the same state throughout the drive, the transition between these two Southeast hubs feels consistent and familiar.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.3 miles from Chester, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lancaster Highway
23.6 mi
29m
Pageland Highway
19.5 mi
22m
State Hwy 151 Bypass
18.2 mi
20m
West Bobo Newsome Highway
15.1 mi
21m
State Highway 151
10 mi
12m
South Governor Williams Highway
5.5 mi
6m
Lancaster Bypass
5.3 mi
6m
Harry Byrd Highway
4.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Lancaster Highway
— 23.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on West End Street
266 ft·9 sec·West End Street
2
Turn right onto SC 9 Business
0.5 mi·54 sec·Gadsden Street
3
Continue on SC 9 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Lancaster Street
4
Continue on SC 9
20 mi·24 min·Lancaster Highway
5
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
3.9 mi·4 min·Lancaster Highway
6
Continue on SC 9
5.3 mi·6 min·Lancaster Bypass
7
Take the exit onto SC 9
0.1 mi·18 sec·SC 9
8
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
276 ft·7 sec·SC 9
9
Merge onto SC 9
19 mi·22 min·Pageland Highway
10
Turn right onto Tory Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Tory Road
11
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business
451 ft·9 sec·Pearl Street
12
Merge onto SC 151
4.8 mi·5 min·State Highway 151
13
Continue on SC 151 Bypass
18 mi·20 min·State Hwy 151 Bypass
14
Continue on SC 151
5.2 mi·6 min·State Highway 151
15
Continue on SC 151
15 mi·21 min·West Bobo Newsome Highway
16
Continue on SC 34; SC 151
4.7 mi·5 min·Harry Byrd Highway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
18
Merge onto US 52; US 401
5.5 mi·6 min·South Governor Williams Highway
19
Continue on US 52
4.6 mi·7 min·West Lucas Street
20
Continue on South Church Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Church Street
21
Turn right
57 ft·4 sec
22
Turn slight left
126 ft·14 sec
23
At end of road, turn left
44 ft·5 sec
24
Turn right
50 ft·3 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You can comfortably complete the 2-hour and 21-minute drive in one go, but keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route may make it feel longer than the mileage suggests. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Chester to avoid searching for stations on unfamiliar backroads. Because there are no designated stops on this route, consider packing snacks or water to stay refreshed while navigating the local highways. Staying alert is key, especially when transitioning between the different local road segments that define this trip.
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 55.3 miles from Chester, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.6 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.3 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chester, 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 Chester, SC
This is one driving day of about 110.6 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Chester, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Lancaster Highway for about 23.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.4 and 110.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
30.4 mi into trip|~38m in|SC 9
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
5
110.5 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
At end of road, turn left
Navigation decision point
5
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.30 one way
$34.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.91
$37.82
premium
$4.70
$20.47
$40.94
diesel
$5.61
$24.42
$48.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.2
0
$11.61
$5.31
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.42
EV Truck/SUV
44.2
0
$15.48
$7.08
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 14, 2026
Origin
Chester, SC
Morning
in Chester on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
WSW 0 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Florence, SC
Morning
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 8 mph0% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 21m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as highways make up only 26% of this 110.6-mile trip. You will navigate a variety of local roads that demand your full attention, providing a more engaged experience behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 23.6 miles along Lancaster Highway, offering brief periods of steady driving. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, the character of the road changes frequently as you transition between highways and bypasses. This is an ideal drive if you prefer winding, technical roads over the repetitive nature of high-speed multi-lane interstates.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on Lancaster Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 30.4 miles in near SC 9.
Driving Effort6/10
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 110.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 30.4 miles (SC 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.9 miles (SC 151 Business / Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 110.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Florence is a city in the Pee Dee Country Region of South Carolina. It was the site of the Florence Stockade, a Confederate POW camp, notably bad but still maybe not as bad as Andersonville, then a railroad hub, and nowadays a regional center for medical care and manufacturing, including as it sits at the terminus for I-20. Even though it got started rather late, in 1871, it's more or less the hub for northeastern South Carolina, aka Pee Dee Country.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 110.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on Lancaster Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Florence, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.4 miles (SC 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.9 miles (SC 151 Business / Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 110.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Florence, SC before heading back.
