This 94.4-mile drive from Fairfax to Charleston, South Carolina, is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. You'll primarily be on Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Yemassee Highway, with about 35% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $15, making it an economical choice for a short excursion. This route offers a straightforward connection within the Southeast region, perfect for a quick getaway or as a segment of a larger Southern road trip. Given its relatively short duration, it's ideal for a single-day adventure without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Fairfax, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Savannah Highway
29.7 mi
43m
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi
22m
Yemassee Highway
15.1 mi
26m
Trask Parkway
12.4 mi
16m
Augusta Highway
6.6 mi
9m
US 17 Alt
3.9 mi
5m
Elm Street West
2.7 mi
4m
West Carolina Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 29.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on this road
274 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 6th Street West
286 ft·14 sec·6th Street West
3
Turn right onto US 321
0.1 mi·12 sec·Hampton Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 278
1.1 mi·1 min·Allendale-Hampton Highway
5
Continue on US 278
1.8 mi·2 min·Augusta Highway
6
Continue on US 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Railroad Avenue Southwest
7
Continue on US 278
3.7 mi·5 min·Augusta Highway
8
Continue on US 278
2.7 mi·4 min·Elm Street West
9
Continue on US 278
2.1 mi·3 min·West Carolina Avenue
10
Continue on US 278
1.1 mi·1 min·Augusta Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 68
15 mi·26 min·Yemassee Highway
12
Turn slight right onto SC 68
0.2 mi·25 sec·Connelly Street
13
Turn right onto US 17 Alt; US 21
3.9 mi·5 min·US 17 Alt; US 21
14
Merge onto US 17; US 21
12 mi·16 min·Trask Parkway
15
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
16
Continue on US 17
30 mi·43 min·Savannah Highway
17
Take the exit
441 ft·12 sec
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
19
Turn straight onto Lockwood Drive
0.9 mi·2 min·Lockwood Drive
20
Continue on Broad Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 20-minute drive, departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Charleston and explore. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan to take breaks as needed, perhaps during the 29.7-mile stretch on Savannah Highway. The total fuel cost is estimated at $15, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before leaving Fairfax. This route's flexibility means you can adapt your schedule easily, but keep an eye on local traffic conditions as you approach Charleston, as this is a common area for congestion.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.2 miles from Fairfax, SC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 21 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
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 Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, SC
This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fairfax, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 29.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 92.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Street West
Turn right onto 6th Street West
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 321 / Hampton Avenue
Turn right onto US 321 / Hampton Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 278 / Allendale-Hampton Highway
Turn left onto US 278 / Allendale-Hampton Highway
Navigation decision point
4
14.1 mi into trip|~21m in|SC 68 / Yemassee Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 68 / Yemassee Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
92.6 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.76 one way
$29.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.14
$32.28
premium
$4.70
$17.47
$34.94
diesel
$5.61
$20.84
$41.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.91
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.26
$3.78
EV Truck/SUV
37.8
0
$13.22
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Fairfax, SC
Morning
in Fairfax on Sunday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charleston, SC
Morning
in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
11:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
10 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
2h 20m 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...
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 39.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Fairfax to Charleston presents a mixed driving experience, featuring both highway and local road segments. With 35% of the route on highways, you can expect some faster-paced driving, interspersed with stretches on more local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.7 miles on Savannah Highway. This means you'll likely experience a changing road environment as you progress, transitioning between quicker travel and potentially more varied scenery or traffic patterns typical of a mixed drive.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.7 mi on Savannah Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Street West.
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 94.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.1 miles (6th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 321 / Hampton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 278 / Allendale-Hampton Highway): Navigation decision point.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 94.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.7 miles on Savannah Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (6th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 321 / Hampton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 278 / Allendale-Hampton Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charleston, SC before heading back.
