Origin
Forest Acres, SC
Morning in Forest Acres on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
103 mi
166 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest Acres, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Goose Creek, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Forest Acres to Goose Creek is 103 miles and takes about 1 hour and 58 minutes via I 26, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. It's a straightforward trip with a high percentage of highway driving, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. Given its relatively short duration, it's well-suited for a single-day journey. You'll find the primary route straightforward and predictable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.5 miles from Forest Acres, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 88.8 mi | 1h 35m |
| South Beltline Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Veterans Memorial Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| William Earle Berne Beltway | 1.8 mi | 1m |
| North Beltline Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| University Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Goose Creek Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Beltline Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Forest Acres, SC and Goose Creek, SC.
Start on SC 16
Turn slight left onto SC 16
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 16
Continue on South Beltline Boulevard
Turn left onto SC 48
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 77
Continue on I 77
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 26
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 78
Continue on Goose Creek Road
Continue on Goose Creek Road
Continue on Old State Road
Continue on Old State Road
Turn left onto The Oaks Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short, one-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight. With a drive time under two hours, you likely won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 88.8-mile stretch on I 26. The estimated fuel cost is around $16, so plan accordingly. Ensure you have enough gas before heading out to minimize any unexpected stops on the highway.
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.
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 23 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.5 miles or 1h 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goose Creek, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Forest Acres, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Forest Acres, SC
This is one driving day of about 103 miles and 1h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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.
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 51.5 miles from Forest Acres, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 103 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 16 / Beltline Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork toward I 26 East: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 78 East: Goose Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Continue onto Old State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$16.11 one way
$32.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.61 | $35.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $19.06 | $38.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.74 | $45.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.9 | 0 | $10.82 | $4.94 |
| Efficient EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.01 | $4.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Forest Acres on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Goose Creek on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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.
This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of the route utilizing major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 88.8 miles on I 26, meaning you can settle in for a significant portion of the trip without many interruptions. Expect a consistent driving experience for most of the journey, characterized by high speeds and efficient travel. The main roads guiding you include I 26, South Beltline Boulevard, and Veterans Memorial Freeway, all contributing to a profile that prioritizes getting you to your destination quickly.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and South Beltline Boulevard. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near SC 16 / Beltline Boulevard.
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 103 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: at 1.7 miles (SC 16 / Beltline Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 10.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 103 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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