Chesterfield, SC to Anderson County Airport, SC is 257.1 miles and takes about 5h 2m via I-95 and I-26, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With an 89% highway share, expect a consistent and efficient journey. It's a well-suited route for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward drive with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.5 miles from Chesterfield, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
116.6 mi
2h 6m
I 95
52.4 mi
56m
I 385
22.9 mi
24m
Trask Parkway
12 mi
14m
Highway 418
9.9 mi
14m
US 21
6.9 mi
8m
Cooley Bridge Road
5.6 mi
8m
Belton Highway
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 116.6 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chesterfield, SC and Anderson County Airport, SC.
1
Start on Chesterfield Lake Drive
0.2 mi·55 sec·Chesterfield Lake Drive
2
At end of road, turn left onto Chesterfield Drive
186 ft·12 sec·Chesterfield Drive
3
Turn left onto Broad River Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Broad River Boulevard
4
At end of road, turn left onto SC 170
3.0 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
5
Turn slight left onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
7
Enter roundabout onto US 21
221 ft·3 sec·US 21
8
Continue on US 21
6.8 mi·8 min·US 21
9
Continue on US 17
1.4 mi·1 min·Kings Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 95 North: Florence
11
Merge onto I 95
52 mi·56 min·I 95
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
13
Merge onto I 26
117 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
23 mi·24 min·I 385
Exit 51Toward I 385 North: Laurens, GreenvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward SC 418: Fountain Inn, Pelzer
16
Turn left onto SC 418
0.4 mi·42 sec·McCarter Road
17
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi·2 min·Milacron Drive
18
Continue on SC 418
9.9 mi·14 min·Highway 418
19
Turn left onto US 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·Augusta Road
20
Turn right onto SC 247
5.6 mi·8 min·Cooley Bridge Road
21
Continue on SC 247
3.6 mi·4 min·Highway 247
22
Continue on SC 247
1.3 mi·2 min·River Street
23
Turn left onto SC 20
374 ft·12 sec·North Main Street
24
Turn right onto US 76; US 178; SC 20
2.3 mi·3 min·Anderson Street
25
Continue on US 76; US 178
4.7 mi·6 min·Belton Highway
26
Continue on US 76; US 178
2.6 mi·3 min·East River Street
27
Turn left onto US 29
2.0 mi·2 min·East Shockley Ferry Road
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 29
468 ft·10 sec·South Murray Avenue
29
Turn right onto SC 28
0.5 mi·34 sec·Pearman Dairy Road
30
Continue on SC 28
2.2 mi·2 min·Highway 28 Bypass
31
Turn left onto SC 24
1.0 mi·1 min·West Whitner Street
32
Continue on SC 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Highway 24
33
Turn left onto Airport Road
0.4 mi·59 sec·Airport Road
34
Continue on South Warner Road
0.4 mi·58 sec·South Warner Road
35
Turn sharp left onto Airport Road
55 ft·7 sec·Airport Road
36
Turn right
293 ft·21 sec
37
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 2m duration, leaving Chesterfield, SC in the morning will comfortably get you to Anderson County Airport the same day. Plan for one stop to refuel and stretch your legs; the longest stretch without a major road change is over 116 miles, so breaking it up around the halfway point makes sense. Keep an eye on fuel prices as you travel, though the estimated $40 budget is a good baseline. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility, but aim to avoid peak traffic times if possible, especially as you approach Anderson County.
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 128.5 miles from Chesterfield, SC, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.6 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 57 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.5 miles or 2h 25m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anderson County Airport, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chesterfield, 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 Chesterfield, SC
This is one driving day of about 257.1 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Chesterfield, 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 116.6 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 217.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Chesterfield Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Chesterfield Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
194.8 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|I 385
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
5
217.7 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward SC 418: Fountain Inn, Pelzer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 418: Fountain Inn, Pelzer
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.20 one way
$80.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$43.96
$87.92
premium
$4.70
$47.58
$95.17
diesel
$5.61
$56.76
$113.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.1
0
$27.00
$12.34
Efficient EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.28
EV Truck/SUV
102.8
1
$35.99
$16.45
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Chesterfield, SC
Night
in Chesterfield on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Anderson County Airport, SC
Night
in Anderson County Airport on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 3 to 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
75°F
Rock Hill, SC
129 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
25 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
5h 2m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 115.3
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 89% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-95 and I-26. You'll encounter long stretches of consistent speed, including a segment of 116.6 miles on I-26 where you can settle into a rhythm. The profile suggests a predominantly fast-paced journey, minimizing town stops and maximizing forward progress. Expect a predictable driving experience focused on efficient travel between your starting and ending points.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.6 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Chesterfield Drive.
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 257.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 0.2 miles (Chesterfield Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 78.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chesterfield, SC and Anderson County Airport, SC, road signs point toward Greenville and Pelzer.
Greenville
194.8 mi in|~3h 37m|via I 385
Pelzer
217.7 mi in|~4h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 257.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.6 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Chesterfield Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 78.2 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Anderson County Airport, SC before the return drive.
