Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Cowpens, SC to Florence, SC

Pin this trip

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 29m

Distance

166.4 mi

268 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 18m ★
6 AM
3h 30m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 36m
3 PM
3h 40m
5 PM
3h 53m
8 PM
3h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown Cowpens, SC, SC

Cowpens, SC

Connor Scott McManus

county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States

Florence, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 166.4-mile drive from Cowpens, SC, to Florence, SC, is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 29 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of main roads including Pageland Highway and I-85, with about 28% of the journey on highways. Budget around $27 for fuel for this relatively straightforward trip across the Southeast. With only one recommended stop, it's a manageable journey, allowing for flexibility in your timing. The overall feel is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments.

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

83.2 miles from Cowpens, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pageland Highway 19.5 mi 22m
I 85 18.4 mi 21m
State Hwy 151 Bypass 18.2 mi 20m
West Bobo Newsome Highway 15.1 mi 21m
State Highway 151 10 mi 12m
Black Highway 9.6 mi 11m
Catawba River Road 8.8 mi 10m
South Anderson Road 8.6 mi 9m
Longest stretch: Pageland Highway — 19.5 mi, about 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cowpens, SC and Florence, SC.

1

Start on this road

43 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto East Church Street

105 ft · 6 sec · East Church Street
3

Turn right onto US 29

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North Main Street
4

Turn slight left onto SC 110

1.8 mi · 3 min · Battleground Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 85 North: Charlotte
6

Merge onto I 85

18 mi · 21 min · I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Exit 102 Toward SC 5, SC 198: Blacksburg, Rock Hill
8

Turn right onto SC 5

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Mountain Street
9

Continue on SC 5

1.6 mi · 1 min · York Road
10

Continue on SC 5

0.7 mi · 49 sec · York Highway
11

Continue on SC 5

3.3 mi · 3 min · York Road
12

Continue on SC 5

1.7 mi · 1 min · Kings Creek Drive
13

Continue on SC 5

9.6 mi · 11 min · Black Highway
14

Turn left onto SC 5

5.3 mi · 6 min · Alexander Love Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on SC 5

6.5 mi · 7 min · York Highway
16

Continue on SC 5

2.3 mi · 3 min · West Main Street
17

Turn right onto SC 901; SC 5

3.4 mi · 5 min · Heckle Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
18

At end of road, turn left onto SC 121; SC 5

1.8 mi · 2 min · Albright Road
19

Continue on US 21 Business; SC 5; SC 121

0.8 mi · 57 sec · East Main Street
20

Continue on US 21; SC 5

8.6 mi · 9 min · South Anderson Road
21

Continue on US 21

8.8 mi · 10 min · Catawba River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Take the exit

501 ft · 9 sec
23

Merge onto Texaco Road

487 ft · 12 sec · Texaco Road
24

Turn left onto SC 9

3.7 mi · 4 min · Lancaster Highway
25

Continue on SC 9

5.3 mi · 6 min · Lancaster Bypass
26

Take the exit onto SC 9

0.1 mi · 18 sec · SC 9
27

Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9

276 ft · 7 sec · SC 9
28

Merge onto SC 9

19 mi · 22 min · Pageland Highway
29

Turn right onto Tory Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Tory Road
30

At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business

451 ft · 9 sec · Pearl Street
31

Merge onto SC 151

4.8 mi · 5 min · State Highway 151
32

Continue on SC 151 Bypass

18 mi · 20 min · State Hwy 151 Bypass
33

Continue on SC 151

5.2 mi · 6 min · State Highway 151
34

Continue on SC 151

15 mi · 21 min · West Bobo Newsome Highway
35

Continue on SC 34; SC 151

4.7 mi · 5 min · Harry Byrd Highway
36

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
37

Merge onto US 52; US 401

5.5 mi · 6 min · South Governor Williams Highway
38

Continue on US 52

4.6 mi · 7 min · West Lucas Street
39

Continue on South Church Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · South Church Street
40

Turn right

57 ft · 4 sec
41

Turn slight left

126 ft · 14 sec
42

At end of road, turn left

44 ft · 5 sec
43

Turn right

50 ft · 3 sec
44

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 3-hour-and-29-minute duration, this route is comfortably completed in one day, so you have the flexibility to depart when it suits you best. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition between Pageland Highway and other local roads, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. With only one stop suggested, plan it strategically to break up the 166.4 miles. A good tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the upcoming turns on Pageland Highway before you depart, as it constitutes the longest stretch without a major change in road type.

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 83.2 miles from Cowpens, SC, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.5 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 37 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 83.2 miles or 1h 43m 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 48m

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 Cowpens, 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 Cowpens, SC

This is one driving day of about 166.4 miles and 3h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Cowpens, 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 Pageland Highway for about 19.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Waxhaw, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waxhaw, NC

83 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Bessemer City, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Heath Springs, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.2 miles from Cowpens, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

InCharge Energy Charging Station

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour

Darlington, South Carolina

+18333994638

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 53.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 85 North: Charlotte

Navigation decision point

Toward I 85 North: Charlotte
5
2.3 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 85

Merge onto I 85

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20.7 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward SC 5, SC 198: Blacksburg, Rock Hill

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 102 Toward SC 5, SC 198: Blacksburg, Rock Hill
5
39.2 mi into trip | ~48m in | SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway

Turn left onto SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
53.4 mi into trip | ~1h 6m in | SC 901; SC 5 / Heckle Boulevard

Turn right onto SC 901; SC 5 / Heckle Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.02 one way

$52.04 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $28.45 $56.90
premium $4.70 $30.80 $61.59
diesel $5.61 $36.74 $73.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.9 0 $17.47 $7.99
Efficient EV 41.6 0 $14.56 $6.66
EV Truck/SUV 66.6 0 $23.30 $10.65

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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 20, 2026

Origin

Cowpens, SC

Late night in Cowpens on Tuesday

Local time

4:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Florence, SC

Late night in Florence on Tuesday

Local time

4:50 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°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

3 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

3h 29m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a route with a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. While 28% of the journey is on highways, the majority involves more frequent steering and navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.5 miles on Pageland Highway, indicating a need to stay attentive. The road character will likely shift between quicker highway sections and more winding local roads as you progress through South Carolina. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; it requires active engagement with the driving.

Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.5 mi on Pageland Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 166.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Cowpens, SC to Florence, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Rock Hill along the way.

Rock Hill

20.7 mi in | ~26m

About the Cities

Arriving in Florence, SC

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 29m. Total distance: 166.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 19.5 miles on Pageland Highway. 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.

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. 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 2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Florence, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Florence, SC

Welcome, SC 185.3 mi · 3h 34m Belton, SC 183 mi · 3h 36m Lyman, SC 176.7 mi · 3h 25m Bluffton, SC 167 mi · 3h 12m

More from Cowpens, SC

North Charleston, SC 213.3 mi · 3h 59m Rock Hill, SC 94.9 mi · 1h 54m

More trips to Florence, SC

Travelers Rest, SC 188.9 mi Abbeville, SC 179.6 mi Hilton Head Island, SC 176.8 mi Duncan, SC 174.6 mi Simpsonville, SC 166.9 mi Blacksburg, SC 144.9 mi
Escape planner: Cowpens, SC Scenic drives in SC

Explore more options from Cowpens, SC or browse trips ending in Florence, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.