Origin
Isle of Palms, SC
Late night in Isle of Palms on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Isle of Palms, SC to 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
23m
Distance
13 mi
21 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Isle of Palms, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to get from Isle of Palms to Charleston, you are in for a quick, 13-mile trip that typically takes about 23 minutes. Since this is a short, straightforward journey within South Carolina, it is best suited as a simple day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You will spend roughly $2 on fuel, making this a very budget-friendly transit between the two locations. Your route utilizes Jasper Boulevard, Ben Sawyer Boulevard, and the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to navigate the region. Because the distance is so manageable, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head back whenever you are ready.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Sawyer Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge | 2 mi | 2m |
| Jasper Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Palm Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Coleman Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Coleman Boulevard | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Bay Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Meeting Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
— 2.6 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Isle of Palms, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on SC 703
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Palm Boulevard
2
Continue on SC 703
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Jasper Boulevard
3
Turn right onto SC 703
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Station 22 1/2 Street
4
Continue on SC 703
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight right onto SC 703
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on SC 703
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Coleman Boulevard
7
Continue on SC 703
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Coleman Boulevard
8
Take the ramp onto SC 703
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
SC 703
Toward US 17 South: Charleston
9
Merge onto US 17
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 52 Bus
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Morrison Drive
12
Turn straight onto East Bay Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bay Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
13
Turn right onto Calhoun Street
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Calhoun Street
14
Turn left onto S-10-107
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
16
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 13 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street
Turn right onto SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street
Navigation decision point
7
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street
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.
Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street
4
10.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
US 52 Bus / Morrison Drive
Turn left onto US 52 Bus / Morrison Drive
Navigation decision point
6
12.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Turn left onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
13 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Broad Street
Turn left onto Broad Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.03 one way
$4.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.22 | $4.45 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.41 | $4.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.87 | $5.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.37 | $0.62 |
| Efficient EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.82 | $0.83 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Charleston, SC
Late night in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
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
21 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
23m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this 13-mile stretch. With only 4% of the distance spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads that require your full attention. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 2.6-mile stretch along Ben Sawyer Boulevard. Because the route is technical and demands frequent navigation, it feels more like a local commute than a high-speed transit. Prepare for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged as you transition from the barrier island to the city.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.6 mi on Ben Sawyer Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 13 miles you will encounter 10 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 2.9 miles (SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (US 52 Bus / Morrison Drive): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Isle of Palms, SC
Full guide →Isle of Palms is a city of 4,347 (2020) in South Carolina, near Charleston. Over the years Isle of Palms has become a very popular vacation spot for families. Warm weather, an abundance of palm trees, and beautiful beaches make Isle of Palms the perfect location for any traveler.
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 23m. Total distance: 13 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.6 miles on Ben Sawyer Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.9 miles (SC 703 / Station 22 1/2 Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (US 52 Bus / Morrison Drive): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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