Florence, SC to Welcome, SC is 185.3 miles and takes about 3h 34m via J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I-26, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, making it a straightforward hop across the Southeast. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, it's a practical choice for a single-day drive. Plan for a smooth transit with minimal navigation challenges, allowing you to reach your destination without a major time commitment.
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
92.6 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Welcome, 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
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.7 mi·3 min
Exit 64BToward I 26 West
9
Merge onto I 26; US 76
55 mi·1 hr·I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
30 mi·32 min·I 385
Exit 51Toward I 385 North: Laurens, GreenvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276
0.5 mi·33 sec·US 276
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 185: Atlanta, Anderson
13
Merge onto I 185
14 mi·15 min·Southern Connector
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit 15Toward US 25: White Horse Road, Travelers RestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
149 ft·9 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 25
2.0 mi·3 min·White Horse Road
17
Turn right onto Welcome Avenue
0.4 mi·58 sec·Welcome Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto Brownwood Drive
0.2 mi·42 sec·Brownwood Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Brownwood Drive
Trip Plan
For this 185.3-mile drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and take advantage of lighter traffic. Since the total duration is around 3.5 hours, you can comfortably complete it in one day with just one planned stop. The estimated fuel cost is about $29, so ensure your tank is full before you depart, especially since the longest stretch without an exit is 76.4 miles on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-26 to I-385 as you get closer to Welcome, SC, as this is where the primary highway routing changes.
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 92.6 miles from Florence, SC, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 49m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Welcome, 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 185.3 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 76.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 182.6 — 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
9
137.6 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|I 385
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
6
167.2 mi into trip|~3h 10m in|US 276
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276 toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderso...
8
182.5 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Take the exit toward US 25: White Horse Road, Travelers Rest
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 15
Toward US 25: White Horse Road, Travelers Rest
7
182.6 mi into trip|~3h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.98 one way
$57.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$31.68
$63.37
premium
$4.70
$34.30
$68.59
diesel
$5.61
$40.91
$81.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.6
0
$19.46
$8.89
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.21
$7.41
EV Truck/SUV
74.1
0
$25.94
$11.86
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 20, 2026
Origin
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Welcome, SC
Late night
in Welcome on Tuesday
Local time
5:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
81°F
Saint Andrews, SC
93 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
3 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 34m 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.
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 70.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 87% of the 185.3 miles on major interstates like the J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I-26. You'll encounter a long stretch of 76.4 miles on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway without needing to exit. Expect to see a steady flow of traffic and relatively few turns for the majority of the drive. The highway portion concludes as you approach your destination, transitioning to surface roads for the final segment.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 185.3 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 137.6 miles (I 385): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.2 miles (US 276): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Welcome, SC, road signs point toward Greenville, Mauldin and Anderson.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 185.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas 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.
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 Welcome, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 137.6 miles (I 385): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.2 miles (US 276): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Welcome, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
