Origin
Five Forks, SC
Late night in Five Forks on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Five Forks, SC to Anderson, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Five Forks, SC
Wilawan Pantukang
Anderson, SC
Junior Bastos
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward connection between Five Forks and Anderson, this 37.8-mile drive is a quick and efficient trek through the Southeast. The journey typically takes about 56 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel cost estimate of just $6, this route is budget-friendly for those commuting or visiting family. You will primarily utilize I-85, Highway 81 North, and Woodruff Road to navigate between these two South Carolina locales. Because the drive is under an hour, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it suits your needs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 22.2 mi | 27m |
| Highway 81 North | 5 mi | 8m |
| Woodruff Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| East Greenville Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 81 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Fant Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Whitner Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Five Forks Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 22.2 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Five Forks, SC and Anderson, SC.
1
Start on this road
28 ft
·
2 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
344 ft
·
26 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto SC 296
153 ft
·
5 sec
·
Five Forks Road
4
Turn left onto SC 146
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Woodruff Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Turn left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 85 South
6
Merge onto I 85
22 mi
·
27 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 27
Toward SC 81: Anderson
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
194 ft
·
10 sec
9
Turn left onto SC 81
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Highway 81 North
10
Continue on SC 81
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 81
11
Continue on SC 81
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Highway 81 North
12
Continue on East Greenville Street
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Greenville Street
13
Turn left onto North Fant Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Fant Street
14
Turn right onto East Whitner Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
East Whitner Street
15
Arrive at destination
East Whitner Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Five Forks, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 27.9 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 296 / Five Forks Road
At end of road, turn right onto SC 296 / Five Forks Road
Navigation decision point
5
5.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
27.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward SC 81: Anderson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 27
Toward SC 81: Anderson
5
27.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.91 one way
$11.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.46 | $12.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.00 | $13.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Anderson, SC
Late night in Anderson on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
56m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 75% of your time spent on high-speed thoroughfares. You should be prepared for a consistent pace, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 22.2 miles directly on I-85. While the interstate segments allow for efficient travel, the transition onto Highway 81 North and Woodruff Road offers a shift toward more localized driving. Expect a practical, no-nonsense experience behind the wheel where the main objective is steady progress. The road's personality is defined by these fast-moving stretches, so keep a steady hand as you navigate the transition from the interstate to your final destination.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.2 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Highway 81 North. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 37.8 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SC 296 / Five Forks Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 22.2 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Anderson, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SC 296 / Five Forks Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Anderson, SC before heading back.
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.
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