Origin
Florence, SC
Late night in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Florence, SC to Summerville, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
113.2 mi
182 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 0m
★
6 AM
2h 9m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Summerville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 113.2-mile journey from Florence, SC, to Summerville, SC, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes to complete. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 93% of the drive on major interstates like I-95 and I-26, making for a straightforward travel experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, this trip is quite budget-friendly. Both your origin and destination are located within the Southeast region, so you won't be crossing any major geographical or cultural divides. This drive is ideal for those looking for an efficient and uncomplicated way to get from point A to point B within South Carolina.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.6 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 74.8 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 26 | 30.3 mi | 32m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 74.8 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Summerville, 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
75 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
I 95
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
11
Merge onto I 26
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 26
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right
92 ft
·
6 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just over 2 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. You likely won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially during the 74.8-mile stretch on I-95. The estimated fuel cost of $18 is quite manageable, so topping off before you leave Florence or planning a quick stop around the halfway mark should be sufficient. Since this is a predominantly highway drive, aim to leave during off-peak hours to maximize your time on the road and minimize potential traffic delays.
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 56.6 miles from Florence, SC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.8 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 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, 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 113.2 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Florence, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 74.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.6 miles from Florence, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.8 miles.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 113.2 — 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
5
80.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
7
110.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
5
113.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m in
|
East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.70 one way
$35.40 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.36 | $38.71 |
| premium | $4.70 | $20.95 | $41.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.99 | $49.99 |
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: 39.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34 | 0 | $11.89 | $5.43 |
| Efficient EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.3 | 0 | $15.85 | $7.24 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Summerville, SC
Late night in Summerville on Tuesday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 8m 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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
near mile 113.2
View on nps.gov
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 62.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this drive, as 93% of the route utilizes major interstates. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 74.8 miles on I-95, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. The drive begins on West Evans Street before merging onto the interstate system. While largely focused on efficient travel, there are opportunities to briefly experience local roads before and after the main highway segments. This profile suggests a drive that prioritizes speed and directness over varied scenery.
93% 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: 74.8 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. You will hit about 13 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 113.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 80.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Florence, SC
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 113.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.8 miles on I 95. 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 Summerville, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 80.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 Summerville, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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