Origin
Greenville, SC
Morning in Greenville on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greenville, SC to Spartanburg, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
30.1 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, you are looking at a very manageable 30.1-mile journey. Expect to spend about 44 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $5, this is an incredibly cost-effective connection within the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes I-85, I-385, and the Warren H. Abernathy Highway to bridge these two hubs. Because the transit time is under an hour, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your schedule around your actual destination activities rather than the commute itself.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 13.8 mi | 17m |
| I 385 | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| Warren H Abernathy Highway | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| W O Ezell Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| West Saint John Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East North Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Church Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 13.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenville, SC and Spartanburg, 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
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Warren H Abernathy Highway
10
Continue on US 29
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
W O Ezell Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 29
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
12
Turn left onto US 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint John Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto US 221; SC 56
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Church Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 221; SC 56
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 29.1 — 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
6
21.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Turn slight left toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
6
29.1 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
US 29 / West Saint John Street
Turn left onto US 29 / West Saint John Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.71 one way
$9.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.15 | $10.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.57 | $11.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.65 | $13.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.16 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.93 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Spartanburg, SC
Morning in Spartanburg on Sunday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 14 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
39 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 63% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will experience a blend of interstate speed and local highway navigation as you transition between the two cities. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 13.8 miles on I-85, which provides a straightforward, consistent experience for the driver. While you won't face the monotony of a long-haul cross-country trek, the shift from multi-lane interstates to the Warren H. Abernathy Highway keeps the drive from feeling purely robotic. It is a functional, efficient path that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic detours.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and I 385. 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
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 30.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 44m.
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.
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 Spartanburg, SC, road signs point toward Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport and Wellford.
Greenville–Spartanburg International Airport
6 mi in
|
~8m
Wellford
21.3 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Starting in Greenville, SC
Full guide →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".
Arriving in Spartanburg, SC
Full guide →Spartanburg is both a county and city in Upcountry South Carolina.
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 44m. Total distance: 30.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Spartanburg, 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Spartanburg, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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