Traveling from Florence to Bluffton covers 167 miles across the South Carolina Lowcountry, typically taking about 3 hours and 12 minutes of drive time. Because the journey is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, making it a straightforward connection between the Pee Dee region and the coast. Whether you are heading toward the Atlantic for a weekend or simply moving across the state, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable path. It is an efficient, practical way to reach your destination without the hassle of a multi-day itinerary.
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
83.5 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
131.9 mi
2h 21m
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.6 mi
13m
Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
10m
Fording Island Road
5.8 mi
6m
Okatie Highway
4.2 mi
4m
West Evans Street
2.4 mi
4m
Bluffton Road
1.7 mi
3m
West David H McLeod Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 131.9 mi, about 2h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Bluffton, SC.
1
Start on this road
50 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left
133 ft·15 sec
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Cheves Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Cheves Street
4
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Warley Street
5
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
6
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
1.5 mi·2 min·West David H McLeod Boulevard
7
Continue on I 20 Bus
0.5 mi·53 sec·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
9
Merge onto I 95
132 mi·2 hr 21 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
11
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi·13 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
12
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
13
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
15
Merge onto US 278
5.8 mi·6 min·Fording Island Road
16
Turn right onto SC 46
0.8 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
17
Enter roundabout onto SC 46
170 ft·3 sec·Bluffton Road
18
Continue on SC 46
0.9 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
19
Turn left onto Bruin Road
87 ft·2 sec·Bruin Road
20
Arrive at destination
Bruin Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Plan for at least one dedicated stop along the way to break up the long 131.9-mile stretch on I-95, ensuring you stay alert behind the wheel. Given the reliance on major highways, keep an eye on traffic patterns, especially during peak travel hours, as construction or congestion on the interstate can impact your arrival time. Your fuel budget of $27 is a solid baseline, but consider refueling before you leave the Florence area to avoid premium pricing near major interchanges. Being prepared for that long interstate haul is the most important factor in making this a smooth and stress-free journey.
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 83.5 miles from Florence, SC, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.9 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluffton, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Florence, 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 Florence, SC
This is one driving day of about 167 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Florence, 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 95 for about 131.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Cheves Street
At end of road, turn left onto East Cheves Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|Warley Street
Turn right onto Warley Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|S-21-31 / West Evans Street
Turn left onto S-21-31 / West Evans Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.5 mi into trip|~10m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.12 one way
$52.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.55
$57.11
premium
$4.70
$30.91
$61.82
diesel
$5.61
$36.87
$73.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 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
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.61
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.38
$10.69
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Bluffton, SC
Late night
in Bluffton on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Holly Hill, SC
84 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
37 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 149.7
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 63.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive dominated by high-speed travel, as roughly 79% of your trip takes place on highways. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-95, which accounts for a single, long stretch of 131.9 miles. This section provides a consistent, albeit monotonous, pace that allows you to cover distance quickly. As you transition away from the interstate, the character of the road shifts toward local routes like Coosaw Scenic Drive and Lowcountry Drive. These secondary roads offer a change of pace as you navigate the final miles into Bluffton, providing a more grounded feel after hours of interstate travel.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 12m drive. You will face about 13 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 167 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 131.9 miles on I 95. 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Bluffton, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
