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Trip from Forest Acres, SC to Goose Creek, SC

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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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Richland County, South Carolina, United States of America

Forest Acres, SC

Wikimedia Commons

city in South Carolina, United States

Goose Creek, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: I 26 — 88.8 mi, about 1h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Forest Acres, SC and Goose Creek, SC.

1

Start on SC 16

47 ft · 2 sec · North Beltline Boulevard
2

Turn slight left onto SC 16

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Beltline Boulevard
3

Keep slight right at fork onto SC 16

0.8 mi · 1 min · Beltline Boulevard
4

Continue on South Beltline Boulevard

2.8 mi · 5 min · South Beltline Boulevard
5

Turn left onto SC 48

451 ft · 9 sec · Bluff Road
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
7

Merge onto I 77

1.8 mi · 1 min · William Earle Berne Beltway
8

Continue on I 77

2.8 mi · 3 min · Veterans Memorial Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
10

Merge onto I 26

89 mi · 1 hr 35 min · I 26
Use the right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Exit 205B Toward US 78 East: Goose Creek Use the right lane.
12

Turn straight onto US 78

1.5 mi · 2 min · University Boulevard
13

Continue on Goose Creek Road

0.5 mi · 43 sec · Goose Creek Road
14

Continue on Goose Creek Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Goose Creek Road
15

Continue on Old State Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Old State Road
16

Continue on Old State Road

237 ft · 14 sec · Old State Road
Use the left lane.
17

Turn left onto The Oaks Avenue

38 ft · 1 sec · The Oaks Avenue
18

Arrive at destination

The Oaks Avenue

Trip Plan

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.

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 51.5 miles from Forest Acres, SC, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.8 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Forest Acres, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 88.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Gaston, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gaston, SC

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Cayce, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookdale, SC

Meal break

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 check

Top 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

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.

4
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | SC 16 / Beltline Boulevard

Keep slight right at fork onto SC 16 / Beltline Boulevard

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
10.3 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 26 East: Charleston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
11.1 mi into trip | ~17m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
99.9 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in

Take the exit toward US 78 East: Goose Creek

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 205B Toward US 78 East: Goose Creek
5
103 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | Old State Road

Continue onto Old State Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.11 one way

$32.21 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Forest Acres, SC

Morning in Forest Acres on Tuesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Goose Creek, SC

Morning in Goose Creek on Tuesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 58m 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

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 28.4
Caution: Burn Ban in Effect 4/17
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
View on nps.gov
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

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...

18 mi from route ~45 min detour $10 near mile 103
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.8 mi on I 26.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

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.

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 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.

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 88.8 miles on I 26. 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 Goose Creek, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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.

Yes — Congaree National Park and 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 Goose Creek, 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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