Traveling from Florence to Ridgeland is a straightforward 145.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 41 minutes. Because this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $23 on fuel, making it a cost-effective excursion through the Southeast. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, keeping navigation simple for drivers who prefer a direct path. Whether you are heading south for business or a quick change of scenery, this drive offers a reliable connection between two South Carolina hubs. It is an efficient way to traverse the state without the complications of navigating rural backroads.
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
72.5 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
137.8 mi
2h 27m
West Evans Street
2.4 mi
4m
US 17
1.8 mi
2m
West David H McLeod Boulevard
1.5 mi
2m
East Cheves Street
0.7 mi
1m
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
Warley Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North Jacob Smart Boulevard
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 137.8 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Ridgeland, 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
138 mi·2 hr 27 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 17
1.8 mi·2 min·US 17
Toward US 17: Ridgeland
11
Arrive at destination
US 17; US 278
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though it is wise to account for the single planned stop along the way. Planning for one break during your 2-hour and 41-minute drive will help keep you alert during the long interstate haul. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Florence to ensure you stay within your $23 budget, as prices can fluctuate near major highway interchanges. If you are prone to fatigue, use the longest stretch of I-95 to pace your cruise control, but stay vigilant for changing traffic patterns near the transition to US-17. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows you to reach Ridgeland with minimal stress.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.5 miles from Florence, SC, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.8 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.5 miles or 1h 22m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ridgeland, 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 145.1 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 137.8 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 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
$22.69 one way
$45.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.81
$49.62
premium
$4.70
$26.85
$53.71
diesel
$5.61
$32.04
$64.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.5
0
$15.24
$6.96
Efficient EV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.80
EV Truck/SUV
58
0
$20.31
$9.29
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ridgeland, SC
Late night
in Ridgeland on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
23 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
2h 41m 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.
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 145.1
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused, highway-centric experience, as 97% of your travel takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on I-95, which accounts for a significant 137.8-mile uninterrupted stretch of the journey. The drive begins with brief transitions via West Evans Street and concludes with a short segment on US-17, but the interstate remains the backbone of the trip. Because this is a high-speed transit route, you will find a consistent, fast-paced rhythm once you merge onto the highway. Be prepared for a steady, monotonous grind that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, technical turns.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.8 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and West Evans Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Florence, SC to Ridgeland, SC is easy. At 2h 41m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
Florence is a city in the Pee Dee Country Region of South Carolina. It was the site of the Florence Stockade, a Confederate POW camp, notably bad but still maybe not as bad as Andersonville, then a railroad hub, and nowadays a regional center for medical care and manufacturing, including as it sits at the terminus for I-20. Even though it got started rather late, in 1871, it's more or less the hub for northeastern South Carolina, aka Pee Dee Country.
The longest stretch is about 137.8 miles on I 95. 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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ridgeland, SC before heading back.
