Traveling from Loris to Charleston covers 118 miles through the Southeast, typically requiring about 2 hours and 27 minutes of travel time. Because this journey is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating this route involves a mix of local thoroughfares, including Main Street, Broad Street, and Park View Road. Since you will be staying entirely within South Carolina, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you transition between these two areas.
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
58.5 miles from Loris, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
45.5 mi
1h
North Fraser Street
34.9 mi
49m
Broad Street
18.1 mi
27m
Highway 701 South
12.4 mi
17m
4th Avenue
1.7 mi
3m
Church Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Bay Street
0.8 mi
1m
Meeting Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 45.5 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loris, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on Railroad Avenue
40 ft·5 sec·Railroad Avenue
2
Turn right onto SC 9 Business
523 ft·14 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 701
18 mi·27 min·Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn straight onto Park View Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·Park View Road
5
Turn right onto US 701; US 501 Business
0.3 mi·1 min·16th Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 501; US 70135
0.9 mi·2 min·Church Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 701
0.1 mi·12 sec·Church Street
8
Turn right onto US 701
1.7 mi·3 min·4th Avenue
9
Continue on US 701
12 mi·17 min·Highway 701 South
10
Continue on US 701
35 mi·49 min·North Fraser Street
11
Continue on US 17
45 mi·1 hr·US 17
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 52 Bus
0.5 mi·1 min·Morrison Drive
14
Turn straight onto East Bay Street
0.8 mi·1 min·East Bay Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Calhoun Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Calhoun Street
16
Turn left onto S-10-107
0.7 mi·1 min·Meeting Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
18
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 2-hour and 27-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic congestion. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the manageable duration of the trip, but keep your fuel budget of $18 in mind as you head out. Because the route consists entirely of local roads like Broad Street and Park View Road, stay alert for frequent turns and intersections that break up the drive. My best advice for this specific journey is to keep your GPS active and ready, as the lack of long highway stretches means you will be making frequent navigational adjustments throughout the 118-mile trek.
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 58.5 miles from Loris, SC, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.5 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 26 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Loris, 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 Loris, SC
This is one driving day of about 117 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Loris, 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 US 17 for about 45.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 116.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 9 Business / Main Street
Turn right onto SC 9 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 701 / Broad Street
Turn right onto US 701 / Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
18.8 mi into trip|~29m in|US 501; US 70135 / Church Street
Turn left onto US 501; US 70135 / Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
6
116.3 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Turn left onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.30 one way
$36.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.01
$40.01
premium
$4.70
$21.65
$43.31
diesel
$5.61
$25.83
$51.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.24
$4.68
EV Truck/SUV
46.8
0
$16.38
$7.49
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Loris, SC
Morning
in Loris on Tuesday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charleston, SC
Morning
in Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
6:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Georgetown, SC
59 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
1 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 47m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With 0% of the journey spent on highways, you will find yourself navigating through local transit corridors for the duration of the 118-mile trip. The drive is defined by its winding nature, as there are no long, straight stretches; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Main Street. This technical route requires your full attention as you transition between various local roads, making it a stark contrast to high-speed travel.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.5 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 9 Business / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 117 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (SC 9 Business / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 701 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (US 501; US 70135 / Church Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Charleston is the largest and oldest city in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America. Its historic downtown is on a peninsula formed by two rivers, the Ashley and the Cooper, flowing into the Atlantic, and protected from the open ocean by surrounding islands. Charleston was captured in the American Civil War without much property damage, so the historic part of town has buildings that are hundreds of years old. The current downtown skyline, with practically no tall buildings due to the city's height restriction ordinance, is dominated by church steeples and the stunning Arthur Ravenel cable-stay bridge over the Cooper River. The city is a major port on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and a popular destination for domestic and international tourists.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 117 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.5 miles on US 17. 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: near the start (SC 9 Business / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 701 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (US 501; US 70135 / Church Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
