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Trip from Mount Pleasant, SC to Northwood Estates, SC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

27m

Distance

19.1 mi

31 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States

Mount Pleasant, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Northwood Estates, SC, SC

Northwood Estates, SC

Colon Freld

Trip Overview

Mount Pleasant, SC to Northwood Estates, SC is 19.1 miles and takes about 27 minutes via Mark Clark Expressway, Rivers Avenue, and Chuck Dawley Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, mostly highway drive within the Southeast region, specifically connecting two points within South Carolina. Given its short distance and duration, it's ideal for a quick trip or as part of a larger journey. You'll find this route offers a practical, no-frills way to get from point A to point B.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Mark Clark Expressway 12 mi 14m
Rivers Avenue 4.9 mi 7m
Chuck Dawley Boulevard 1.3 mi 2m
Greenridge Road 0.6 mi 1m
Coleman Boulevard <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Mark Clark Expressway — 12 mi, about 14m

Traffic on I-526

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

5 PM

~2,618 veh/hr typical · worst 3,098

Quietest

2 AM

~55 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

47.6×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 75 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 Mount Pleasant, SC and Northwood Estates, 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 Charleston Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 18B Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue Use the slight right lane.
6

Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78

4.9 mi · 7 min · Rivers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7

Turn left onto Greenridge Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greenridge Road
8

Arrive at destination

Greenridge Road

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 13.6 — 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

3
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard

Turn left onto I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard

Navigation decision point

4
1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway

Turn straight onto I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway toward North Charleston

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward North Charleston
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
3
13.6 mi into trip | ~17m in | US 52; US 78 / Rivers Avenue

Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78 / Rivers Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.03 one way

$6.07 round trip

$4.04/gal 25.4 MPG avg 7 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.40 $3.31 $6.62
premium $4.78 $3.59 $7.19
diesel $6.18 $4.65 $9.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.7 0 $2.01 $0.92
Efficient EV 4.8 0 $1.67 $0.76
EV Truck/SUV 7.6 0 $2.67 $1.22

Gas CO2

7 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (71% 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 Oct 17, 2026

Origin

Mount Pleasant, SC

Morning in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday

Local time

7:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Rain Showers Likely

N 14 to 21 mph 57% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued October 17 at 4:53AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 3:02AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

Destination

Northwood Estates, SC

Morning in Northwood Estates on Tuesday

Local time

7:14 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Rain Showers Likely then Mostly Cloudy

N 15 to 20 mph 57% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued October 17 at 4:53AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued October 17 at 3:02AM EDT until October 17 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

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

27m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 63% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the trip, including a longest stretch of 12 miles on the Mark Clark Expressway. The route balances highway driving with some time on local roads like Rivers Avenue and Chuck Dawley Boulevard, offering a brief change of pace. Expect a generally efficient and direct experience behind the wheel.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12 mi on Mark Clark Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Mark Clark Expressway and Rivers Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 27m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

41 ft -4 ft

Total Climb

80 ft

Total Descent

70 ft

Highest Point

41 ft

~16.3 mi in

Elevation Range

45 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Mount Pleasant, SC to Northwood Estates, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.

Charleston

1.4 mi in | ~2m | via I 526

Detours Along the Way

Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.

Starbucks

Cafe

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

Mount Pleasant, SC

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Early in the drive, right off the route

6min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Mount Pleasant, SC

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop

Cafe

Later in the drive, right off the route

21min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Cuisine: american

Visit website

Pappy's

Cafe

Later in the drive, right off the route

18min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour

North Charleston, SC

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Visit website

Starbucks

Cafe

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour

North Charleston, SC

Cuisine: coffee_shop

Hours: Mo-Sa 04:00-22:00; Su 04:30-21:30

Visit website

Dunkin'

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Mount Pleasant, SC

Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop

Hours: 06:00-16:00

Visit website

Perkins

Restaurant

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour

Cuisine: american

Visit website

Tokyo Bistro

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

3min in 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Mount Pleasant, SC

Cuisine: japanese

Visit website

Subway

Fast_food

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

North Charleston, SC

Cuisine: sandwich

Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-22:00; Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 09...

Visit website

Johnny’s Breakfast & Lunch

Fast_food

Near the start, right off the route

0 mi from route

Fonduely Yours

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Cuisine: french

MWV-KapStone Park

Park

Later in the drive, right off the route

18min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Midland Park

Park

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Mount Pleasant Historic District

Park

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Murray Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Liberty Hill Park

Park

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Tillman Park

Park

Around the midpoint, short detour

15min in 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Mount Pleasant Historic District

District

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial

Memorial

Around the midpoint, short detour

15min in 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

North Charleston Fire Museum

Museum

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-16:00

Visit website

Ravens Run Airport

Yes

Near the start, short detour

3min in 2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

SC

USS Patapsco Monument

Memorial

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Cannon 16

Cannon

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Motel 6 Charleston N

Motel

Near the end, right off the route

24min in 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Economy Inn and Suites

Motel

Later in the drive, right off the route

18min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Old Village Post House

Hotel

Near the start, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Extended Stay America Select Suites

Hotel

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Charleston B&B

Hotel

Around the midpoint, short detour

12min in 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Residence Inn

Hotel

Later in the drive, short detour

18min in 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour

North Charleston, SC

Visit website

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Mount Pleasant, SC

Full guide →

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.

Top landmarks

  • • USS Yorktown — 1943 Essex-class aircraft carrier
  • • USS Laffey — 1943 Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer
  • • Charles Pinckney National Historic Site — human settlement in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States of America

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 27m. Total distance: 19.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 12 miles on Mark Clark Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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. 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: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): 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 Northwood Estates, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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