Spanning 219.1 miles across South Carolina, this journey from Conway to Greenwood typically takes about 4 hours and 26 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively manageable, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $35 on fuel for the trek, which relies heavily on major thoroughfares like the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, I-26, and Church Street. Since the route stays entirely within the Southeast, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you transition from the coastal area toward the inland regions. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive that works well for travelers looking to move efficiently between these two South Carolina hubs.
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
109.6 miles from Conway, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 15m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Conway, SC and Greenwood, SC.
1
Start on SC 905
461 ft·19 sec·4th Avenue
2
Turn right onto Elm Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Elm Street
3
Turn left onto S-26-29
314 ft·9 sec·9th Avenue
4
Turn right onto Pine Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Pine Street
5
Merge onto US 501; US 701
29 mi·34 min·Church Street
6
Turn straight onto SC 576
3.2 mi·3 min·SC 576
7
Continue on US 76
6.7 mi·7 min·US 76
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 76; US 301
12 mi·16 min·US 76; US 301
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street
1.7 mi·3 min·East Cheves Street
10
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Warley Street
11
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
12
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
1.5 mi·2 min·West David H McLeod Boulevard
13
Continue on I 20 Bus
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
1.7 mi·3 min
Exit 64BToward I 26 West
15
Merge onto I 26; US 76
53 mi·58 min·I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 54Toward SC 72: ClintonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto SC 72
1.2 mi·1 min·SC 72
18
Turn left onto Springdale Drive
3.4 mi·4 min·Springdale Drive
19
Turn left onto SC 72
0.4 mi·53 sec·South Broad Street
20
Continue on SC 72
24 mi·31 min·Highway 72 West
21
Continue on SC 72 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Reynolds Avenue
22
Turn left onto SC 72 Business
0.3 mi·36 sec·Grace Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto SC 72 Business
72 ft·1 sec·West Cambridge Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
SC 72 Business
Trip Plan
Since this is a 4.5-hour excursion, try to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion on the busier highway sections. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh, as the long, uninterrupted stretches can lead to driver fatigue. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially when transitioning between the J Strom Thurmond Freeway and secondary routes, to ensure you stay within your $35 budget. Because the route is compact enough for a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation tools handy for the portions involving Church Street, where road conditions and traffic patterns may change more frequently than on the interstate.
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 109.6 miles from Conway, SC, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 48 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.6 miles or 2h 15m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenwood, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Conway, 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 Conway, SC
This is one driving day of about 219.1 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Conway, 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 76.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 219.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|S-26-29 / 9th Avenue
Turn left onto S-26-29 / 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
134 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 26 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 64B
Toward I 26 West
5
135.7 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 26; US 76
Merge onto I 26; US 76
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
188.7 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Take the exit toward SC 72: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 54
Toward SC 72: Clinton
5
219.1 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|SC 72 Business / West Cambridge Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto SC 72 Business / West Cambridge Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.26 one way
$68.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$37.46
$74.93
premium
$4.70
$40.55
$81.10
diesel
$5.61
$48.37
$96.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$23.01
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.67
$14.02
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Conway, SC
Late night
in Conway on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Greenwood, SC
Late night
in Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live 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
12 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
4h 26m 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.
Congaree National Park
National Park
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 120.9
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a drive where 80% of your time is spent on highways, making it a high-speed, efficiency-oriented experience. You will encounter a mix of fast-paced interstate travel and transitionary local roads that keep the drive moving steadily. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 76.4-mile stretch along the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, which serves as the backbone of your transit. As you navigate these varied road types, the character shifts from wide-open highway lanes to the more localized flow of city-adjacent streets. Expect a consistent, functional road surface that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic bypasses.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near S-26-29 / 9th Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 26m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (S-26-29 / 9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 134 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 135.7 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. 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.
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 0.6 miles (S-26-29 / 9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 134 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 135.7 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Greenwood, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
