Lake City, SC to Goose Creek, SC is 71.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m via South Williamsburg County Highway and Goose Creek Boulevard South, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a local driving experience with frequent turns, making it a good option for a single-day trip. The relatively short distance and manageable duration mean you can likely complete this journey with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Lake City, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Williamsburg County Highway
37.7 mi
49m
Goose Creek Boulevard South
14.2 mi
16m
North Williamsburg County Highway
11.1 mi
13m
South Ron McNair Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
US 52
2.3 mi
3m
Longstreet Street
1.7 mi
3m
Red Bank Road
0.9 mi
1m
US 17 Alternate
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
South Williamsburg County Highway
— 37.7 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, SC and Goose Creek, SC.
1
Start on South Acline Avenue
479 ft·13 sec·South Acline Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Thomas Street
0.3 mi·52 sec·West Thomas Street
3
Turn left onto US 52
2.5 mi·4 min·South Ron McNair Boulevard
4
Continue on US 52
11 mi·13 min·North Williamsburg County Highway
5
Continue on US 52
1.7 mi·3 min·Longstreet Street
6
Turn right onto US 52; SC 261
0.2 mi·10 sec·West Main Street
7
Continue on US 52; SC 261
38 mi·49 min·South Williamsburg County Highway
8
Continue on US 17 Alternate; US 52
0.6 mi·1 min·US 17 Alternate; US 52
9
Continue on US 52; US 17 Alternate
1.1 mi·2 min·US 52; US 17 Alternate
10
Continue on US 52; SC 6 Truck
1.2 mi·1 min·US 52; SC 6 Truck
11
Continue on US 52
5.2 mi·5 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
9.0 mi·10 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
13
Turn slight left onto Saint James Avenue
198 ft·7 sec·Saint James Avenue
14
Continue on Red Bank Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Bank Road
15
Turn right onto Old State Road
0.2 mi·55 sec·Old State Road
16
Turn right onto The Oaks Avenue
38 ft·1 sec·The Oaks Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
The Oaks Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 36m duration and 71.8-mile length, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. You'll be spending around $11 on fuel, so plan accordingly. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, pay close attention to your GPS and road signs, especially during the 37.7-mile stretch on South Williamsburg County Highway. There are no specific stops recommended, so you have the flexibility to pause when needed.
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 35.9 miles from Lake City, SC, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 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 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goose Creek, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake City, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake City, SC
This is one driving day of about 71.8 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lake City, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Williamsburg County Highway for about 37.7 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 71.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 52 / South Ron McNair Boulevard
Turn left onto US 52 / South Ron McNair Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
15.8 mi into trip|~23m in|US 52; SC 261 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 52; SC 261 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
61.6 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|Old State Road
Turn right onto Old State Road
Navigation decision point
5
71.8 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|The Oaks Avenue
Turn right onto The Oaks Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.23 one way
$22.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.28
$24.55
premium
$4.70
$13.29
$26.58
diesel
$5.61
$15.85
$31.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.5
0
$7.54
$3.45
Efficient EV
18
0
$6.28
$2.87
EV Truck/SUV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.60
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Lake City, SC
Morning
in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Goose Creek, SC
Morning
in Goose Creek on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
7 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
1h 36m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, offering a local road feel for most of its 71.8 miles. With only about 4% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time navigating county roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 37.7 miles on South Williamsburg County Highway. As you progress, the road will likely transition from rural county routes to more developed boulevards closer to your destination.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on South Williamsburg County Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 52 / South Ron McNair Boulevard.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lake City, SC to Goose Creek, SC is easy. At 1h 36m with 4% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 52 / South Ron McNair Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (US 52; SC 261 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.6 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 71.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on South Williamsburg County Highway. 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 0.4 miles (US 52 / South Ron McNair Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 15.8 miles (US 52; SC 261 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 61.6 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Goose Creek, SC before heading back.
