If you are planning to head from Mount Pleasant to Florence, you are looking at a 137.2-mile trek through the heart of South Carolina. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes, making it a highly manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, primarily utilizing the Mark Clark Expressway, I-26, and I-95. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Because the entire journey remains within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the trip. It is a straightforward, practical route designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing.
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
68.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
73.9 mi
1h 19m
I 26
41.7 mi
46m
Mark Clark Expressway
12 mi
14m
West Evans Street
2.4 mi
4m
I 20 Bus
1.6 mi
2m
Chuck Dawley Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Rivers Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on this road
76 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto SC 703
237 ft·9 sec·Coleman Boulevard
3
Turn left onto I 526 Bus
1.3 mi·2 min·Chuck Dawley Boulevard
4
Turn straight onto I 526
12 mi·14 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Toward North CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 18BToward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78
1.1 mi·1 min·Rivers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn straight
0.1 mi·20 sec
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward I 26 North: Columbia
9
Merge onto I 26
42 mi·46 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 169BToward I 95 North: Florence
11
Merge onto I 95
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
13
Merge onto I 20 Bus
1.6 mi·2 min·I 20 Bus
14
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
15
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Warley Street
16
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Cheves Street
17
Turn right
133 ft·11 sec
18
Turn right
50 ft·3 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop will help break up the drive. Keep in mind that the majority of your time is spent on I-95, so stay alert for traffic fluctuations common on this major interstate artery. Because you are spending roughly $22 on fuel, filling up before you leave Mount Pleasant is an easy way to avoid mid-trip errands. Use your single planned stop to stretch your legs and refresh, especially if you hit the road during peak travel hours. Embracing the direct nature of this route allows you to reach Florence in under three hours without feeling rushed.
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 68.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, SC
This is one driving day of about 137.2 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 95 for about 73.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard
Turn right onto SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
13.3 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18B
Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
5
15.3 mi into trip|~20m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
57 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
5
57.8 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.46 one way
$42.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.46
$46.92
premium
$4.70
$25.39
$50.79
diesel
$5.61
$30.29
$60.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.2
0
$14.41
$6.59
Efficient EV
34.3
0
$12.00
$5.49
EV Truck/SUV
54.9
0
$19.21
$8.78
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Mount Pleasant, SC
Late night
in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
5:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Holly Hill, SC
69 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
8 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
2h 38m 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...
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 75.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 94% of this journey is spent on high-speed roads. The route transitions from the local connectivity of the Mark Clark Expressway onto the major interstate arteries that define transit in this area. You will encounter a significant stretch of open road, with your longest uninterrupted segment covering 73.9 miles along I-95. While the drive is efficient, be prepared for the steady, consistent pace that comes with navigating these primary interstate systems. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over the winding, technical turns of smaller state routes.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 137.2 miles you will encounter 16 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 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Mount Pleasant is a large town in the Greater Charleston region of South Carolina. The population of the town has exploded, making it a very popular bedroom community of the city of Charleston.
Florence is a city in the Pee Dee Country Region of South Carolina. It was the site of the Florence Stockade, a Confederate POW camp, notably bad but still maybe not as bad as Andersonville, then a railroad hub, and nowadays a regional center for medical care and manufacturing, including as it sits at the terminus for I-20. Even though it got started rather late, in 1871, it's more or less the hub for northeastern South Carolina, aka Pee Dee Country.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 38m. Total distance: 137.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.9 miles on I 95. 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 Florence, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Florence, SC before heading back.
