Origin
Irmo, SC
Afternoon in Irmo on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Irmo, SC to Mount Pleasant, 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 24m
Distance
125 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Irmo, SC
Junior Bastos
Mount Pleasant, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 125-mile drive from Irmo, South Carolina, to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 24 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it allows for a relaxed pace and ample time at your destination. The route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 96% of the drive on major roads, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. With an estimated fuel cost of $20, it's an economical option for exploring within the Southeast region. You'll find this route to be practical and direct, ideal for those who prioritize reaching their destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
62.5 miles from Irmo, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 107.9 mi | 1h 59m |
| Mark Clark Expressway | 11.9 mi | 14m |
| Chuck Dawley Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Lake Murray Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Rivers Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Remount Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Coleman Boulevard | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Woodrow Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 107.9 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Irmo, SC and Mount Pleasant, SC.
1
Start on Woodrow Street
24 ft
·
3 sec
·
Woodrow Street
2
Turn right onto SC 60
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Murray Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 26 East: Columbia
4
Merge onto I 26; US 76
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
103 mi
·
1 hr 53 min
·
I 26
Toward Charleston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 211A-B
Toward Aviation Avenue, Remount Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 211B
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Remount Road
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Remount Road
10
Turn right onto US 52; US 78
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Rivers Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 526
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Mark Clark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 526 Bus
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Chuck Dawley Boulevard
14
Turn right onto SC 703
237 ft
·
12 sec
·
Coleman Boulevard
15
Turn left
76 ft
·
5 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this short, 125-mile drive, flexibility is your biggest advantage. Aim to depart Irmo in the morning to make the most of your day in Mount Pleasant, especially since the drive itself is only about 2 hours and 24 minutes. With no designated stops in the data, you can easily break up the journey as needed, perhaps for a quick stretch or fuel, though the $20 fuel cost suggests you won't need frequent stops. Keep an eye on the mileage markers on I 26, as it constitutes the longest stretch, and plan your rest breaks accordingly before you find yourself needing one.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.5 miles from Irmo, SC, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.9 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 28 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Irmo, 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 Irmo, SC
This is one driving day of about 125 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Irmo, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 107.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.5 miles from Irmo, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.9 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 110.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 26; US 76
Merge onto I 26; US 76
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
8
109.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward Aviation Avenue, Remount Road
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 211A-B
Toward Aviation Avenue, Remount Road
6
109.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
9
110.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211B
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.55 one way
$39.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $21.37 | $42.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.13 | $46.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.60 | $55.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.13 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.94 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.50 | $8.00 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Mount Pleasant, SC
Afternoon in Mount Pleasant on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Brookdale, SC
63 mi in
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
28 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
2h 24m 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.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
$10
near mile 126
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park
National Park
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...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 30.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 125-mile trip, with 96% of the route utilizing major expressways. The majority of your time will be spent on I 26, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey at 107.9 miles. This means you'll experience a consistent, high-speed driving environment for most of the 2-hour and 24-minute duration. While the focus is on efficient travel, be prepared for the rapid pace of interstate driving as you transition from Irmo to Mount Pleasant.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Mark Clark Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near I 26; US 76.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 125 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.5 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 Irmo, SC and Mount Pleasant, SC, road signs point toward Charleston and Hanahan.
Charleston
6.6 mi in
|
~9m
|
via I 26
Hanahan
109.7 mi in
|
~2h 3m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 125 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.9 miles on I 26. 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 Mount Pleasant, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (I 26; US 76): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 109.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. 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 Mount Pleasant, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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