If you are planning a trip from Duncan to Florence, expect a 174.6-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes to complete. This drive stays entirely within South Carolina, keeping you in the Southeast region for the duration of your travel. Because the total duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You should budget about $28 for fuel to cover the distance. Since the path relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is a great choice if you prefer a slower pace over the typical highway experience.
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
87.3 miles from Duncan, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.3 mi
1h 29m
I 26
78.8 mi
1h 25m
Moore Duncan Highway
6.2 mi
9m
West Main Street
5.8 mi
11m
West Evans Street
2.4 mi
4m
Highway 221
0.8 mi
1m
West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
1m
Warley Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Duncan, SC and Florence, 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 25 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
10
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Warley Street
11
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Cheves Street
12
Turn right
133 ft·11 sec
13
Turn right
50 ft·3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 3-hour and 25-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to break up the drive, as the constant turns on local roads can be more demanding than cruising on a highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout the journey, as the $28 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and local road conditions. To make the most of your travel, try to leave early in the day to avoid peak traffic hours on these local arteries. Being mindful of your route turns is essential, so ensure your navigation is ready before you pull out of Duncan.
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 87.3 miles from Duncan, SC, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 38 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 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 47m
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 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 174.6 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 20 for about 79.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 174.6 — 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
91.7 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
92.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
174.6 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.30 one way
$54.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.85
$59.71
premium
$4.70
$32.31
$64.63
diesel
$5.61
$38.55
$77.10
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: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.33
$8.38
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.28
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.44
$11.17
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Duncan, SC
Late night
in Duncan on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
89°F
Saint Andrews, SC
87 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 25m 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.
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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 108.4
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that favors backroads over high-speed transit. You will be navigating via West Main Street, Moore Duncan Highway, and Highway 221, meaning your highway share is 0%. Because this route avoids major interstates, the personality of the road is technical and requires your full attention behind the wheel. The absence of long, monotonous stretches means you will be constantly adjusting to the flow of local traffic. It is a practical alternative for those who want to avoid the congestion and speed of main thoroughfares.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 25m drive. You will face about 11 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 91.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 174.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on I 20. 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 91.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Florence, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
