Origin
Hartsville, SC
Morning in Hartsville on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hartsville, SC to North Charleston, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
139.3 mi
224 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 36m
★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 9m
10 AM
2h 55m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 56m
5 PM
3h 8m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartsville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
North Charleston, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Embarking on a trip from Hartsville, SC, to North Charleston, SC, covers 139.3 miles and will take approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes. This drive is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of around $22. The journey primarily utilizes major highways, making it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. You'll find the route is focused on efficient travel, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stop. It’s a practical option for a quick transit between these two South Carolina locations.
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
69.6 miles from Hartsville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 67.4 mi | 1h 12m |
| I 26 | 46.7 mi | 52m |
| Oates Highway | 13.5 mi | 21m |
| South 5th Street | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| North Brockington Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Honda Way | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Dorchester Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Rivers Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 67.4 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartsville, SC and North Charleston, SC.
1
Start on US 15 Business
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
South 5th Street
2
Continue on US 15
13 mi
·
21 min
·
Oates Highway
3
Continue on SC 403
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
North Brockington Street
4
Turn left onto US 76
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
East Smith Street
5
Turn right onto Honda Street
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Honda Street
6
Continue on Honda Way
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Honda Way
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
8
Merge onto I 95
67 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
I 95
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
10
Merge onto I 26
47 mi
·
52 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 215
Toward SC 642: Dorchester Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto SC 642
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Dorchester Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 52; US 78
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Rivers Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 78
Trip Plan
For this 139.3-mile journey, you can easily depart from Hartsville, SC, in the morning and arrive in North Charleston, SC, the same day. Since the drive is under 3 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid the earliest rush and allow for a leisurely start. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your break strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or before merging onto I-26. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 67.4-mile stretch on I-95, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Hartsville, SC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.4 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 31 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 28m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hartsville, 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 Hartsville, SC
This is one driving day of about 139.3 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Hartsville, 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 95 for about 67.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.6 miles from Hartsville, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.4 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 21.2 and 138.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
21.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
Honda Street
Turn right onto Honda Street
Navigation decision point
5
91 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
91.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
138 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
Take the exit toward SC 642: Dorchester Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 215
Toward SC 642: Dorchester Road
4
138.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 44m in
|
SC 642 / Dorchester Road
Turn left onto SC 642 / Dorchester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.78 one way
$43.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $23.82 | $47.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $25.78 | $51.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.76 | $61.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.63 | $6.69 |
| Efficient EV | 34.8 | 0 | $12.19 | $5.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.50 | $8.92 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
North Charleston, SC
Morning in North Charleston on Sunday
Local time
6:33 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
9 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
2h 46m 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 drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 82% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-95 and I-26, offering a consistent pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 67.4 miles on I-95, so be prepared for extended highway driving. While Oates Highway offers a brief interlude, the overall character is one of efficient interstate travel, making it a predictable and largely uninterrupted journey for much of its length.
82% 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: 67.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 21.2 miles in near Honda Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21.2 miles (Honda Street): Navigation decision point; at 91 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 91.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in North Charleston, SC
Full guide →North Charleston is in the Greater Charleston area. It is the third largest city in South Carolina with a lot of muscle in terms of commerce and consumerism.
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 2h 46m. Total distance: 139.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 21.2 miles (Honda Street): Navigation decision point; at 91 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 91.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Charleston, 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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