Traveling from Goose Creek to Lancaster covers 148 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 5 minutes. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize US 52, the Kershaw Camden Highway, and North Brooks Street to complete the transit. Expect to spend approximately $24 on fuel for the trip. Since both cities are located within South Carolina, you will remain in the Southeast region for the duration of your drive, making for a straightforward cross-state experience.
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
74 miles from Goose Creek, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 52
26.2 mi
34m
Kershaw Camden Highway
16.1 mi
18m
North Brooks Street
15.1 mi
17m
Kershaw Highway
14.8 mi
16m
Goose Creek Boulevard North
14.2 mi
16m
C E Murray Boulevard
11.5 mi
13m
Sumter Highway
8.4 mi
9m
Camden Highway
8.2 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 26.2 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Goose Creek, SC and Lancaster, SC.
1
Start on The Oaks Avenue
38 ft·7 sec·The Oaks Avenue
2
Turn left onto Old State Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Old State Road
3
Continue on Old State Road
245 ft·16 sec·Old State Road
4
Turn left onto Red Bank Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Bank Road
5
Turn slight right onto US 52
14 mi·16 min·Goose Creek Boulevard North
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto US 52
3.0 mi·4 min·US 52
7
Turn slight left onto US 52
23 mi·29 min·US 52
8
Turn left onto SC 375
5.1 mi·8 min·Gourdin Road
9
Continue on US 521
0.5 mi·36 sec·Society Street
10
Continue on US 521
12 mi·13 min·C E Murray Boulevard
11
Turn slight right
336 ft·4 sec
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·15 sec
13
Merge onto US 521; SC 261
2.4 mi·2 min·Greeleyville Highway
14
Continue on US 521; SC 261
0.4 mi·58 sec·East Boyce Street
15
Turn right onto US 521
0.7 mi·49 sec·North Church Street
16
Continue on US 301; US 521
15 mi·17 min·North Brooks Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto US 521
1.1 mi·1 min·South Guignard Parkway
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi·4 min·South Guignard Drive
19
Continue on US 521
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn left onto US 521; US 76 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
22
Continue on US 521
7.6 mi·8 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
23
Continue on US 521
6.2 mi·7 min·Camden Highway
24
Continue on US 521
8.4 mi·9 min·Sumter Highway
25
Continue on US 521
4.2 mi·8 min·Broad Street
26
Continue on US 521; US 601
14 mi·16 min·Kershaw Highway
27
Continue on US 521; US 601
2.7 mi·3 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
28
Continue on US 521; US 601
0.7 mi·48 sec·South Hampton Street
29
Turn left onto US 521; US 601
1.5 mi·1 min·South Matson Street
30
At end of road, turn left onto US 521 Business
4.8 mi·5 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
31
Continue on US 521
0.8 mi·55 sec·Spring Street
32
Turn right onto US 521
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
33
Continue on US 521; SC 522
7.4 mi·8 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
34
Continue on US 521 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
35
Continue on US 521 Business
0.4 mi·39 sec·Kershaw Highway
36
Continue on US 521 Business; SC 200
0.8 mi·1 min·South Market Street
37
Turn left onto East Gay Street
0.2 mi·24 sec·East Gay Street
38
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Main Street
39
Arrive at destination
South Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour and 5-minute travel time, plan for at least one stop to break up the drive. Since the route involves navigating local roads rather than long stretches of interstate, it is wise to leave early to avoid potential traffic delays on the smaller segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $24 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local station pricing. Flexibility is your greatest advantage on this trip, so feel free to adjust your departure to suit your personal pace. As a specific tip, prioritize your navigation settings for the Kershaw Camden Highway portion, as the turn-heavy nature of the route makes clear directions essential for a smooth arrival.
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 74 miles from Goose Creek, SC, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.2 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 33 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 34m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lancaster, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Goose Creek, 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 Goose Creek, SC
This is one driving day of about 148 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Goose Creek, 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 US 52 for about 26.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 147.9 — 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|Old State Road
Turn left onto Old State Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Red Bank Road
Turn left onto Red Bank Road
Navigation decision point
5
58.8 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
77.6 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|US 521 / South Guignard Parkway
Turn left onto US 521 / South Guignard Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
147.9 mi into trip|~3h 4m in|South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.14 one way
$46.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.31
$50.61
premium
$4.70
$27.39
$54.78
diesel
$5.61
$32.68
$65.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.54
$7.10
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.95
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.72
$9.47
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 21, 2026
Origin
Goose Creek, SC
Late night
in Goose Creek on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lancaster, SC
Late night
in Lancaster on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°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
3h 5m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route functions as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. With only 18% of the journey spent on highways, you should prepare for a more involved experience behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 26.2-mile segment on US 52. Expect the road conditions to shift as you transition from the coastal area toward the interior of the state. Because of the frequent turns, the drive requires consistent focus and offers a different pace compared to monotonous, straight-line highway travel.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.2 mi on US 52.
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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old State Road.
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 148 miles you will encounter 15 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 (Old State Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Red Bank Road): Navigation decision point; at 58.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
689 ft31 ft
Total Climb
770 ft
Total Descent
255 ft
Highest Point
689 ft
~137.4 mi in
Elevation Range
658 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 148 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.2 miles on US 52. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (Old State Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Red Bank Road): Navigation decision point; at 58.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Lancaster, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
