If you are planning a trip across South Carolina, traveling from Dillon to Spartanburg covers 175.3 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 37 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $28 on fuel for the journey. Navigating this path involves traveling along Radford Boulevard, East Boulevard, and East McGregor Street. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should prepare for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel compared to a standard interstate cruise. It is a straightforward trek within the Southeast region that offers a consistent pace for those looking to traverse the state in one go.
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
87.7 miles from Dillon, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Radford Boulevard
25.8 mi
31m
East Boulevard
24.8 mi
28m
East McGregor Street
21.9 mi
24m
Lancaster Highway
19.9 mi
25m
US 321
14.6 mi
16m
Jonesville Lockhart Highway
13.8 mi
16m
SC 9
13.3 mi
15m
South Pine Street
7 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Radford Boulevard
— 25.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dillon, SC and Spartanburg, SC.
1
Start on US 301; US 501
0.9 mi·1 min·US 301; US 501
2
Turn left onto SC 9
26 mi·31 min·Radford Boulevard
3
Turn right onto SC 9; SC 38
2.3 mi·2 min·Cottingham Boulevard South
4
Turn left onto SC 9
13 mi·14 min·SC 9
5
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck
0.4 mi·28 sec·Front Street
6
Turn right onto Market Street
1.1 mi·2 min·Market Street
7
Continue on SC 9
4.2 mi·5 min·Chesterfield Highway
8
Continue on SC 9
6.3 mi·7 min·East Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on SC 9
0.1 mi·7 sec·East Main Street
10
Turn straight onto SC 9
19 mi·21 min·East Boulevard
11
Continue on SC 9
0.4 mi·27 sec·McGregor Street
12
Continue on SC 9
0.1 mi·7 sec·East Mc Gregor Street
13
Continue on SC 9
22 mi·24 min·East McGregor Street
14
Take the exit onto SC 9
0.3 mi·42 sec·SC 9
15
Merge onto US 521; SC 9
4.7 mi·6 min·Lancaster Bypass
16
Continue on SC 9
4.0 mi·4 min·Chester Highway
17
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 9
20 mi·25 min·Lancaster Highway
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto SC 9; SC 72; SC 121; SC 97
3.9 mi·4 min·J A Cochran Bypass
19
Continue on US 321; SC 9
15 mi·16 min·US 321; SC 9
20
Continue on SC 9; SC 49
0.1 mi·15 sec·SC 9; SC 49
21
Continue on SC 9, SC 49
14 mi·16 min·Jonesville Lockhart Highway
22
Merge onto SC 9; SC 18
0.6 mi·41 sec·Jonesville Highway
23
Continue on SC 9; SC 18
0.6 mi·40 sec·South Main Street
24
Turn left onto S-44-12
1.1 mi·2 min·Forest Street
25
Turn right onto US 176
5.3 mi·7 min·Furman L Fendley Highway
26
Continue on US 176
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 176 Bypass
27
Continue on US 176
7.0 mi·10 min·South Pine Street
28
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Forest Avenue
Use the left lane.
29
Turn right onto SC 56
1.3 mi·2 min·Union Street
30
Turn left onto SC 56
0.4 mi·1 min·East Henry Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
31
Turn right onto US 221; SC 56
0.2 mi·41 sec·South Church Street
32
Arrive at destination
US 221; SC 56
Trip Plan
Given the total travel time of under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that break to stretch your legs and reset before tackling the more winding sections of the drive. Keep in mind that with a $28 fuel budget, it is wise to monitor your tank levels before hitting the local roads where service stations may be less frequent than on major interstates. To make the most of this drive, prioritize staying focused during the transition points between Radford Boulevard, East Boulevard, and East McGregor Street. Staying attentive during these turns will make the overall trip much smoother and more manageable.
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 87.7 miles from Dillon, SC, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.8 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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.7 miles or 1h 44m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spartanburg, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dillon, 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 Dillon, SC
This is one driving day of about 175.3 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Dillon, 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 Radford Boulevard for about 25.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.7 and 173.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
26.7 mi into trip|~32m in|SC 9; SC 38 / Cottingham Boulevard South
Turn right onto SC 9; SC 38 / Cottingham Boulevard South
Navigation decision point
4
41.9 mi into trip|~49m in|US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck / Front Street
Turn left onto US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck / Front Street
Navigation decision point
4
42.3 mi into trip|~50m in|Market Street
Turn right onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
6
104 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|SC 9 / Lancaster Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 9 / Lancaster Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
173.2 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|Forest Avenue
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.41 one way
$54.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.97
$59.95
premium
$4.70
$32.44
$64.89
diesel
$5.61
$38.70
$77.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.6
0
$18.41
$8.41
Efficient EV
43.8
0
$15.34
$7.01
EV Truck/SUV
70.1
0
$24.54
$11.22
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Dillon, SC
Late night
in Dillon on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Spartanburg, SC
Late night
in Spartanburg on Sunday
Local time
12:36 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
37 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 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 169.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a road trip defined by its local character rather than high-speed highway miles. With only 18% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating smaller roads and intersections. The drive features a turn-heavy profile, so stay alert as you transition between local streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, consisting of 25.8 miles on Radford Boulevard. As you progress, the frequency of turns requires constant attention, making this a much more technical drive than a monotonous interstate haul.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.8 mi on Radford Boulevard.
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 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 26.7 miles in near SC 9; SC 38 / Cottingham Boulevard South.
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 175.3 miles you will encounter 16 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 26.7 miles (SC 9; SC 38 / Cottingham Boulevard South): Navigation decision point; at 41.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck / Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 175.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.8 miles on Radford Boulevard. 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 26.7 miles (SC 9; SC 38 / Cottingham Boulevard South): Navigation decision point; at 41.9 miles (US 1 Truck; US 52 Truck / Front Street): Navigation decision point; at 42.3 miles (Market Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Spartanburg, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
