Traveling from Clemson to Aiken covers 117.6 miles across the South Carolina landscape. You should anticipate a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. Your route utilizes a combination of local roads including Old Greenville Highway and Walter T, along with sections of I-85. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. Because the entire journey stays within the state of South Carolina, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is a straightforward trip that fits comfortably into a single day, allowing you plenty of time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.5 miles from Clemson, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sleepy Creek Road
18.1 mi
25m
North Highway 28
13.9 mi
20m
Abbeville Highway
12.3 mi
18m
Edgefield Highway
10.1 mi
15m
East Greenwood Street
9.8 mi
14m
Augusta Road
5.2 mi
6m
Anderson Highway
4.7 mi
7m
Pearman Dairy Road
4.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Sleepy Creek Road
— 18.1 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clemson, SC and Aiken, SC.
1
Start on SC 133
0.1 mi·13 sec·College Avenue
2
Turn left onto SC 93
407 ft·15 sec·Old Greenville Highway
Use the left / right lanes.
3
Continue on SC 93
0.7 mi·2 min·Walter T. Cox Boulevard
4
Continue on SC 93
265 ft·6 sec·Old Greenville Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward I 85, US 76, SC 28: Anderson
6
Merge onto Anderson Highway
4.7 mi·7 min·Anderson Highway
7
Continue on US 76; SC 28
0.2 mi·15 sec·Clemson Boulevard
8
Continue on US 76; SC 28
3.2 mi·5 min·Clemson Highway
9
Continue on US 76; SC 28
3.8 mi·5 min·Clemson Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto SC 28
0.2 mi·35 sec·SC 28
11
Merge onto 28 BYP
4.1 mi·4 min·Pearman Dairy Road
12
Continue on SC 28
2.2 mi·2 min·Highway 28 Bypass
13
Continue on SC 28
0.5 mi·33 sec·Pearman Dairy Road
14
Continue on SC 28
0.1 mi·17 sec·State Highway 28
15
Turn right onto SC 28
12 mi·18 min·Abbeville Highway
16
Continue on SC 28
14 mi·20 min·North Highway 28
17
Continue on North Main Street
1.8 mi·3 min·North Main Street
18
Turn slight right onto SC 20
472 ft·10 sec·Court Square
19
Continue on SC 20
0.4 mi·43 sec·South Main Street
20
Turn left onto SC 72
9.8 mi·14 min·East Greenwood Street
21
Turn right onto SC 72 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 72
Use the right lane.
22
Turn right onto SC 225
0.5 mi·47 sec·State Highway 225
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on SC 225
0.5 mi·54 sec·Taggart Avenue
24
Continue on SC 225
0.5 mi·40 sec·Nixon Circle
25
Continue on SC 225
1.3 mi·1 min·Lowell Street
26
Continue on SC 225
2.6 mi·3 min·State Highway 225 Bypass South
27
Continue on SC 225
0.5 mi·42 sec·Scotch Cross Road West
28
Turn right onto US 25; US 178
1.6 mi·2 min·Highway 25 South
29
Continue on US 25; US 178
2.5 mi·3 min·Warren Road
30
Continue on US 25
0.3 mi·27 sec·Epworth Camp Road East
31
Continue on US 25
3.9 mi·5 min·McFerrin Road
32
Continue on US 25
0.7 mi·55 sec·Greenwood Highway
33
Continue on US 25
18 mi·25 min·Sleepy Creek Road
34
Turn right onto US 25 Truck
3.9 mi·4 min·Bauskett Street
35
Continue on US 25
5.2 mi·6 min·Augusta Road
36
Continue on SC 19
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 19
37
Continue on SC 19
10 mi·15 min·Edgefield Highway
38
Continue on SC 19
1.5 mi·2 min·Laurens Street Northwest
39
Turn left onto US 1; US 78; SC 19
0.2 mi·35 sec·Richland Avenue West
40
Turn right onto SC 19
50 ft·1 sec·Chesterfield Street South
41
Arrive at destination
SC 19
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 29 minute duration, your best strategy is to leave early in the morning to beat local traffic patterns on the smaller roads. Since this route lacks formal stops, pack your vehicle with snacks and water before departing to ensure you remain comfortable throughout the trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $19 estimated cost assumes steady driving conditions, and local roads can sometimes impact your actual mileage. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since the total duration is relatively short, you can easily adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. Make sure to double-check your GPS settings before leaving Clemson to ensure you stay on the intended path along Old Greenville Highway and Walter T.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.5 miles from Clemson, SC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.1 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 26 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.5 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Aiken, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clemson, 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 Clemson, SC
This is one driving day of about 117 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Clemson, 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 Sleepy Creek Road for about 18.1 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 0.1 and 117 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 93 / Old Greenville Highway
Turn left onto SC 93 / Old Greenville Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 85, US 76, SC 28: Anderson
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 85, US 76, SC 28: Anderson
5
58.4 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|SC 72 Business / State Highway 72
Turn right onto SC 72 Business / State Highway 72
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
59.7 mi into trip|~1h 31m in|SC 225 / State Highway 225
Turn right onto SC 225 / State Highway 225
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
117 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|SC 19 / Chesterfield Street South
Turn right onto SC 19 / Chesterfield Street South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.30 one way
$36.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.01
$40.01
premium
$4.70
$21.65
$43.31
diesel
$5.61
$25.83
$51.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.24
$4.68
EV Truck/SUV
46.8
0
$16.38
$7.49
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clemson, SC
Late night
in Clemson on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
WSW 2 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Aiken, SC
Late night
in Aiken on Tuesday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
SW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
83°F
Abbeville, SC
59 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
2 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 50m 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 sprint. Since the highway share is 0%, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating local roads that demand more active attention than a standard freeway cruise. The route transitions through winding segments that contrast sharply with the typical high-speed corridor experience. You will find that the road requires consistent focus, especially when maneuvering off the primary thoroughfares. Because there are no designated stops on this 117.6-mile trek, you should prepare for a continuous drive once you head out from Clemson.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.1 mi on Sleepy Creek Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 0.1 miles in near SC 93 / Old Greenville Highway.
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 117 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 0.1 miles (SC 93 / Old Greenville Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.4 miles (SC 72 Business / State Highway 72): Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 117 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.1 miles on Sleepy Creek Road. 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: at 0.1 miles (SC 93 / Old Greenville Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.4 miles (SC 72 Business / State Highway 72): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Aiken, SC before heading back.
