Florence, SC to Sullivans Island, SC is 118 miles and takes about 2h 44m via South Williamsburg County Highway and Goose Creek Boulevard South, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll be spending most of your time on surface roads, so expect a more local feel rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. It's a straightforward drive, making it a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick and uncomplicated connection between these two points.
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
59 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Williamsburg County Highway
37.7 mi
49m
Goose Creek Boulevard South
17.2 mi
19m
Joe Rogers Memorial Bridge
15.2 mi
24m
Mark Clark Expressway
11.9 mi
14m
North Williamsburg County Highway
11.1 mi
13m
South Irby Street
10.6 mi
16m
Rivers Avenue
5 mi
7m
US 52
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
South Williamsburg County Highway
— 37.7 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Sullivans Island, 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
0.3 mi·45 sec·East Cheves Street
4
Turn left onto US 52
11 mi·16 min·South Irby Street
5
Continue on US 52
15 mi·24 min·Joe Rogers Memorial Bridge
6
Continue on US 52
11 mi·13 min·North Williamsburg County Highway
7
Continue on US 52
1.7 mi·3 min·Longstreet Street
8
Turn right onto US 52; SC 261
0.2 mi·10 sec·West Main Street
9
Continue on US 52; SC 261
38 mi·49 min·South Williamsburg County Highway
10
Continue on US 17 Alternate; US 52
0.6 mi·1 min·US 17 Alternate; US 52
11
Continue on US 52; US 17 Alternate
1.1 mi·2 min·US 52; US 17 Alternate
12
Continue on US 52; SC 6 Truck
1.2 mi·1 min·US 52; SC 6 Truck
13
Continue on US 52
5.2 mi·5 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
12 mi·13 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 52; US 78
0.2 mi·15 sec·Rivers Avenue
16
Continue on US 52; US 78
4.7 mi·7 min·Rivers Avenue
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Use the left lane.
18
Merge onto I 526
12 mi·14 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 526 Bus
0.8 mi·1 min·Chuck Dawley Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Myrick Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Myrick Road
Use the left lane.
21
At end of road, turn right onto Rifle Range Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·Rifle Range Road
22
Turn left onto SC 703
2.2 mi·3 min·Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on SC 703
0.2 mi·18 sec·Station 22 1/2 Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
25
Turn right
36 ft·2 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 44m estimated drive time, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Leaving Florence, SC in the morning will allow you to take advantage of less traffic. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in when and where you might want to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $18, and it's wise to top off before heading out, especially since the longest stretch is over 37 miles on surface roads. The route's profile suggests you'll be on local roads for much of the way, so plan for potentially slower speeds and more frequent intersections.
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 59 miles from Florence, SC, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 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 26 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59 miles or 1h 26m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sullivans Island, 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 118 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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 South Williamsburg County Highway for about 37.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 115.5 — 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
6
84.8 mi into trip|~2h in|US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
102.2 mi into trip|~2h 22m in|I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge onto I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
115.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|SC 703 / Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Turn left onto SC 703 / Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.45 one way
$36.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.18
$40.35
premium
$4.70
$21.84
$43.68
diesel
$5.61
$26.05
$52.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.4
0
$12.39
$5.66
Efficient EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
EV Truck/SUV
47.2
0
$16.52
$7.55
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Florence, SC
Morning
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
11:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sullivans Island, SC
Morning
in Sullivans Island on Sunday
Local time
11:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 44m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a low highway share of only 13%, meaning you'll primarily be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 37.7 miles on South Williamsburg County Highway. Expect to transition from more open cruising to navigating local traffic patterns as you approach your destination. You'll notice exits are less frequent than on a major interstate, with more at-grade intersections.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on South Williamsburg County Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 118 miles you will encounter 12 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 84.8 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 118 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on South Williamsburg County Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 84.8 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 Sullivans Island, SC before heading back.
