Origin
Greenville, SC
Night in Greenville on Saturday
Local time
9:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greenville, SC to Buffalo, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
52.3 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greenville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, SC
Derek Keats
Trip Overview
Greenville, SC to Buffalo, SC is 52.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via I-85 and Buffalo-West Springs Highway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and South Carolina, offering a straightforward connection between two points. Given its short duration, it's ideal for a quick transfer or a leisurely start to a longer adventure. You'll encounter a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it an easy excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 13.8 mi | 17m |
| Buffalo-West Springs Highway | 8.6 mi | 15m |
| Stone Station Road | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Highway 215 | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| I 385 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Warren H Abernathy Highway | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| East Blackstock Road | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Highway 56 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 13.8 mi, about 17m
Traffic on I-385
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~4,407 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~129 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
34.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenville, SC and Buffalo, SC.
1
Start on US 29
494 ft
·
21 sec
·
North Church Street
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto East North Street
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
East North Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on I 385
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 385
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 36B-A
Toward I 85: Atlanta, Spartanburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi
·
2 min
Exit 36A
Toward I 85 North: Spartanburg, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport
6
Merge onto I 85
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 66
Toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn slight left
128 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Use the slight left lane.
9
Turn right onto US 29
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Warren H Abernathy Highway
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 26 East: Columbia
11
Merge onto I 26
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 26
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 22
Toward SC 296: Reidville Road, Spartanburg
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward SC 296 East: Spartanburg
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto SC 296
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Reidville Road
15
Turn right onto East Blackstock Road
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
East Blackstock Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on SC 215
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 215
17
Continue on SC 215
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
East Blackstock Road
18
Continue on SC 215
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Stone Station Road
19
Continue on SC 215
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Stone Station Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto SC 56; SC 215
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 56
21
Turn left onto SC 215
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Highway 215
22
Continue on SC 215
8.6 mi
·
15 min
·
Buffalo-West Springs Highway
23
Continue on SC 215
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
SC 215
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Greenville, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 27 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward I 85: Atlanta, Spartanburg
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 36B-A
Toward I 85: Atlanta, Spartanburg
7
6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Spartanburg, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 36A
Toward I 85 North: Spartanburg, Greenville–Spar...
8
21.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 66
Toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
8
26.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward SC 296: Reidville Road, Spartanburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 22
Toward SC 296: Reidville Road, Spartanburg
8
27 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SC 296 East: Spartanburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward SC 296 East: Spartanburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.01 one way
$16.03 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $8.79 | $17.59 |
| premium | $4.64 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $11.53 | $23.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.32 | $3.35 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Buffalo, SC
Night in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
9:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Lake Ridge, SC
26 mi in
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
5 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 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 51% highway, with the longest stretch of continuous highway driving being 13.8 miles on I-85. You'll transition from the interstate to surface roads like Buffalo-West Springs Highway and Stone Station Road. Expect to notice the dense exits and merging traffic as you navigate I-85 before shifting to a more rural cruising pace on the secondary roads.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.8 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.3 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: at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,061 ft
584 ft
Total Climb
242 ft
Total Descent
632 ft
Highest Point
1,061 ft
~3.7 mi in
Elevation Range
477 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Greenville, SC and Buffalo, SC, road signs point toward Spartanburg, Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport and Wellford.
Spartanburg
5.9 mi in
|
~7m
Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport
6 mi in
|
~8m
Wellford
21.3 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Starting in Greenville, SC
Full guide →Founded 1831
Greenville has been described as Athens, Georgia for adults. It is the county seat and largest city of Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. Greenville is also the center of the largest metropolitan area of South Carolina. Columbia, Charleston, and North Charleston have more people, but the urban area around Greenville is larger. With its historic homes and modern office towers, Greenville is said to be where "Old South" meets "New South".
Top landmarks
- • Reedy River Falls Historic Park and Greenway — Park in Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.A.
- • Poinsett Hotel — Historic hotel in Greenville, South Carolina
- • Greenville County Museum of Art — art museum in Greenville, South Carolina
Arriving in Buffalo, SC
Full guide →The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.
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 1h 21m. Total distance: 52.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.8 miles on I 85. 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 Buffalo, 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 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield. 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 Buffalo, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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