This 174.7-mile drive from Hampton, SC to Spartanburg, SC will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. It's a manageable one-day trip, so you won't need to worry about an overnight stay. The majority of the journey utilizes major highways, making it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. Expect to spend around $27 on fuel for this route. With a mixed drive profile, it offers a blend of experiences as you travel north.
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
87.3 miles from Hampton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
86.2 mi
1h 34m
Savannah Highway
23.7 mi
26m
Carolina Highway
19.7 mi
22m
Bufords Bridge Highway
10.9 mi
15m
South Church Street
7.3 mi
13m
Augusta Highway
5.5 mi
7m
Highway 321
4.9 mi
5m
Southbound Road
4.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 86.2 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton, SC and Spartanburg, SC.
1
Start on Helen Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Helen Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 278
0.4 mi·31 sec·Elm Street West
3
Continue on US 278
3.7 mi·5 min·Augusta Highway
4
Continue on US 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Railroad Avenue Southeast
5
Continue on US 278
1.8 mi·2 min·Augusta Highway
6
Continue on US 278
1.1 mi·1 min·Allendale-Hampton Highway
7
Turn right onto US 321
1.0 mi·1 min·Hampton Avenue
8
Continue on US 321
11 mi·15 min·Bufords Bridge Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 321
20 mi·22 min·Carolina Highway
10
Continue on US 321
24 mi·26 min·Savannah Highway
11
Continue on US 321
1.3 mi·2 min·South Church Street
12
Continue on US 321
4.1 mi·5 min·Southbound Road
13
Continue on US 321
2.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
14
Continue on US 321
4.9 mi·5 min·Highway 321
15
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
3.0 mi·3 min·Charleston Highway
16
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
349 ft·11 sec·Charleston Highway
17
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 26 West: Spartanburg
18
Merge onto I 26
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
24 mi·25 min·I 26
Toward SpartanburgUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 28Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, MooreUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn straight onto US 221
2.3 mi·3 min·Highway 221
22
Continue on US 221
6.0 mi·10 min·South Church Street
23
Arrive at destination
US 221; SC 56
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 30-minute duration, departing in the morning is ideal to allow for flexibility. You'll encounter one recommended stop along the way, which should be ample for a break on this shorter trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $27, and plan your refueling accordingly. Since this is a single-day drive, you have the advantage of not needing to rush. A good tip is to take advantage of the 86.2-mile stretch on I 26 to settle into a rhythm, but be ready to adjust your speed when you transition to Savannah Highway or Carolina Highway.
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 87.3 miles from Hampton, SC, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.2 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 38 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 miles or 1h 49m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spartanburg, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hampton, 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 Hampton, SC
This is one driving day of about 174.7 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Hampton, 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 I 26 for about 86.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 166.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 278 / Elm Street West
At end of road, turn left onto US 278 / Elm Street West
Navigation decision point
4
20.5 mi into trip|~30m in|US 321 / Carolina Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 321 / Carolina Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
142.6 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Spartanburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Spartanburg
8
166.1 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore
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 28
Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.32 one way
$54.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.87
$59.74
premium
$4.70
$32.33
$64.67
diesel
$5.61
$38.57
$77.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.34
$8.39
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.29
$6.99
EV Truck/SUV
69.9
0
$24.46
$11.18
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Hampton, SC
Late night
in Hampton on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Spartanburg, SC
Late night
in Spartanburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
4 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 30m 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.
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 174.7
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 72.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 53% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like I 26. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 86.2 miles on I 26, so be prepared for extended periods of steady driving. Savannah Highway and Carolina Highway also play a role, likely offering a change of pace from the interstate. Overall, expect a mixed drive that transitions between efficient highway travel and potentially more local road segments.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.2 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 278 / Elm Street West.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 30m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 278 / Elm Street West): Navigation decision point; at 20.5 miles (US 321 / Carolina Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 79.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.2 miles on I 26. 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: at 0.3 miles (US 278 / Elm Street West): Navigation decision point; at 20.5 miles (US 321 / Carolina Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 79.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Spartanburg, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
