Origin
Duncan, SC
Late night in Duncan on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Duncan, SC to Charleston, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 59m
Distance
206.9 mi
333 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 47m
★
6 AM
4h 0m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 9m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Duncan, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embark on a straightforward 206.9-mile journey from Duncan, SC, to Charleston, SC, a drive that can comfortably be completed in under 4 hours. This route is primarily highway-focused, making it an excellent candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast. You'll spend most of your time on I-26, offering a direct path to your destination. Consider this a practical, no-fuss drive for when you want to get there efficiently.
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
103.4 miles from Duncan, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 191.9 mi | 3h 32m |
| Moore Duncan Highway | 6.2 mi | 9m |
| West Main Street | 5.8 mi | 11m |
| Meeting Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Highway 221 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Spencer Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 191.9 mi, about 3h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Duncan, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on South Spencer Street
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Spencer Street
2
Turn right onto SC 290
5.8 mi
·
11 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on SC 290
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Moore Duncan Highway
4
Turn left onto US 221
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 221
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
6
Merge onto I 26
79 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
113 mi
·
2 hr 5 min
·
I 26
Toward Charleston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
9
Turn right onto US 52
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
11
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 59-minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure. You can depart Duncan, SC, in the morning and arrive in Charleston, SC, by midday, leaving ample time to explore. With only one recommended stop and a manageable 206.9 miles, you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the long 191.9-mile stretch on I-26, to ensure a smooth trip.
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 103.4 miles from Duncan, SC, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 191.9 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 46 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.4 miles or 2h 1m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Duncan, 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 Duncan, SC
This is one driving day of about 206.9 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Duncan, 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 191.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.4 miles from Duncan, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 191.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 205.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 290 / West Main Street
Turn right onto SC 290 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
13 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
92.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
6
204.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
6
205.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
|
US 52 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto US 52 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.35 one way
$64.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $35.38 | $70.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $38.29 | $76.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.68 | $91.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.1 | 0 | $21.72 | $9.93 |
| Efficient EV | 51.7 | 0 | $18.10 | $8.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.8 | 1 | $28.97 | $13.24 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Destination
Charleston, SC
Late night in Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 59m 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.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10
near mile 206.9
View on nps.gov
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 114.1
View on nps.gov
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 7.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 93% of the 206.9 miles on interstate. You'll begin on local roads like Moore Duncan Highway and West Main Street before merging onto I-26. The bulk of your travel will be on this interstate, including one uninterrupted stretch of 191.9 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, characterized by higher speeds and efficient travel as you head southeast.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 191.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Moore Duncan Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 290 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 290 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Charleston, SC
Full guide →Charleston is the largest and oldest city in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America. Its historic downtown is on a peninsula formed by two rivers, the Ashley and the Cooper, flowing into the Atlantic, and protected from the open ocean by surrounding islands. Charleston was captured in the American Civil War without much property damage, so the historic part of town has buildings that are hundreds of years old. The current downtown skyline, with practically no tall buildings due to the city's height restriction ordinance, is dominated by church steeples and the stunning Arthur Ravenel cable-stay bridge over the Cooper River. The city is a major port on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and a popular destination for domestic and international tourists.
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 59m. Total distance: 206.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 191.9 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.
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: near the start (SC 290 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, Congaree National Park and Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Charleston, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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