Florence, SC to Gaston, SC is 95.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via J Strom Thurmond Freeway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving between the Southeast regions. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick transit. It's a good candidate for a single-day journey without feeling too rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.8 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Gaston, 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
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 76AToward I 77: Charlotte, CharlestonUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 77 South: CharlestonUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on I 77
12 mi·14 min·William Earle Berne Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 77
2.4 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Exit 1Toward US 21, US 176, US 321: Gaston, SwanseaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 21; US 176; US 321
2.5 mi·3 min·Charleston Highway
14
Turn slight right onto US 321
4.8 mi·5 min·Highway 321
15
Continue on US 321
1.0 mi·1 min·North Main Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 321
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour 52 minute duration, you have flexibility with your departure time; consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush. With only 95.7 miles, planned stops aren't strictly necessary, but you might want to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $15, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before embarking on the longest stretch. There are no specific overnight recommendations needed for this manageable drive.
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 47.8 miles from Florence, SC, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.8 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.8 miles or 56m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gaston, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Florence, SC
This is one driving day of about 95.7 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Florence, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 65.8 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 and 86.2 — 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
8
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 76A
Toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston
7
70.8 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 77 South: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 77 South: Charleston
8
86.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 21, US 176, US 321: Gaston, Swansea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 1
Toward US 21, US 176, US 321: Gaston, Swansea
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.97 one way
$29.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.36
$32.73
premium
$4.70
$17.71
$35.42
diesel
$5.61
$21.13
$42.26
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: 33.5 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
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.59
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.37
$3.83
EV Truck/SUV
38.3
0
$13.40
$6.12
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 18, 2026
Origin
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Gaston, SC
Late night
in Gaston on Sunday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive 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
1 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
1h 52m 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.
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 79.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 76% of the drive taking place on major roadways like the J Strom Thurmond Freeway. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 65.8 miles on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway experience, the transition onto other main roads like the William Earle Berne Beltway and Highway 321 will introduce slight variations. It’s a practical, functional drive designed for efficient travel.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.8 mi on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and William Earle Berne Beltway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort6/10
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 95.7 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Florence, SC and Gaston, SC, road signs point toward Charleston and Swansea.
Charleston
70.5 mi in|~1h 21m
Swansea
86.2 mi in|~1h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 95.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.8 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. 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 Gaston, 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; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National 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 Gaston, SC before heading back.
