Ladson, SC to Anderson, SC is 209.2 miles and takes about 4 hours 3 minutes via I 26 and I 385, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in South Carolina. The majority of this route is on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a solid option if you need to get from the Charleston area to the Upstate region efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
104.6 miles from Ladson, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
150.8 mi
2h 43m
I 385
22.9 mi
24m
Highway 418
9.9 mi
14m
Cooley Bridge Road
5.6 mi
8m
Belton Highway
4.7 mi
6m
East River Street
3.6 mi
5m
Highway 247
3.6 mi
4m
Anderson Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 150.8 mi, about 2h 43m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 57 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,209 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,724
Quietest
1 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ladson, SC and Anderson, SC.
1
Start on Stoney Road
37 ft·2 sec·Stoney Road
2
Turn left onto Ladson Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Ladson Road
3
Turn left onto College Park Road
0.9 mi·1 min·College Park Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5
Merge onto I 26
151 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
23 mi·24 min·I 385
Exit 51Toward I 385 North: Laurens, GreenvilleUse the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward SC 418: Fountain Inn, Pelzer
8
Turn left onto SC 418
0.4 mi·42 sec·McCarter Road
9
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi·2 min·Milacron Drive
10
Continue on SC 418
9.9 mi·14 min·Highway 418
11
Turn left onto US 25
0.1 mi·11 sec·Augusta Road
12
Turn right onto SC 247
5.6 mi·8 min·Cooley Bridge Road
13
Continue on SC 247
3.6 mi·4 min·Highway 247
14
Continue on SC 247
1.3 mi·2 min·River Street
15
Turn left onto SC 20
374 ft·12 sec·North Main Street
16
Turn right onto US 76; US 178; SC 20
2.3 mi·3 min·Anderson Street
17
Continue on US 76; US 178
4.7 mi·6 min·Belton Highway
18
Continue on US 76; US 178
3.6 mi·5 min·East River Street
19
Turn right onto South Fant Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·South Fant Street
20
Turn left onto East Whitner Street
0.3 mi·50 sec·East Whitner Street
21
Arrive at destination
East Whitner Street
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Ladson in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a total drive time of just over 4 hours and only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this in a single day. The longest stretch on I 26 is about 150 miles, so plan your fuel stop before or after that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 150-mile mark on I 26, as services can be spaced out on major interstates.
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 104.6 miles from Ladson, SC, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.8 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 46 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.6 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anderson, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ladson, 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 Ladson, SC
This is one driving day of about 209.2 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Ladson, 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 150.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 209 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 26 West: Columbia
Navigation decision point
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
152.7 mi into trip|~2h 47m in|I 385
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
5
175.6 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward SC 418: Fountain Inn, Pelzer
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 418: Fountain Inn, Pelzer
5
209 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|East Whitner Street
Turn left onto East Whitner Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.89 one way
$61.77 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$33.94
$67.88
premium
$4.49
$37.00
$73.99
diesel
$4.80
$39.50
$79.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.97
$10.04
Efficient EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
EV Truck/SUV
83.7
1
$29.29
$13.39
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Ladson, SC
Late night
in Ladson on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Clear
SW 6 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:05PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Anderson, SC
Late night
in Anderson on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
WSW 2 to 6 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:05PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 72.2
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 89% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates. You'll have one long stretch of 150.8 miles on I 26 before transitioning. Expect a generally consistent driving experience with limited exits for extended periods on the interstate sections. The final leg involves I 385 and Highway 418, which will feel more like standard highway cruising.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 150.8 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 385. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 3m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.7 miles (I 385): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
814 ft47 ft
Total Climb
942 ft
Total Descent
197 ft
Highest Point
814 ft
~179.4 mi in
Elevation Range
767 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ladson, SC and Anderson, SC, road signs point toward Greenville and Pelzer.
Anderson is a county and city in the Upcountry of South Carolina.
The city of Anderson had a population of 27,545 in 2016 with an urban area population of 75,702. Anderson County had a population of 194,692 in 2016. The city of Anderson serves as one of the three primary cities in the Upcountry of South Carolina, the others being Spartanburg and Greenville.
Top landmarks
•Anderson Downtown Historic District — historic district in Anderson, South Carolina
•Anderson Historic District — historic district in Anderson, South Carolina
•North Anderson Historic District — historic district in Anderson, South Carolina
The longest stretch is about 150.8 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 152.7 miles (I 385): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Anderson, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
