Origin
North Charleston, SC
Late night in North Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Charleston, SC to Florence, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
127.6 mi
205 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Charleston, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
North Charleston, SC to Florence, SC is 127.6 miles and takes about 2h 25m via I 95 and I 26, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region and entirely within South Carolina, making it a straightforward journey. The drive is predominantly highway, so expect consistent speeds and minimal traffic delays for most of the trip. It's a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
63.8 miles from North Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 73.9 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 26 | 46.3 mi | 51m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| I 20 Bus | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Cheves Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Dorchester Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Rivers Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Warley Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on US 52; US 78
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Rivers Avenue
2
Turn left onto SC 642
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Dorchester Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
4
Merge onto I 26
46 mi
·
51 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
6
Merge onto I 95
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
8
Merge onto I 20 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20 Bus
9
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
10
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warley Street
11
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cheves Street
12
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
13
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 25m duration, you have ample flexibility to depart whenever it suits you, though an early morning start can help you beat any potential midday traffic. With only 127.6 miles, you might not need many stops, but a quick break around the halfway point could be refreshing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer interstate stretches; the $20 fuel estimate suggests it's not a high-cost trip, but it's always wise to be prepared. When you reach Florence, West Evans Street will be your primary artery for navigating the city.
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 63.8 miles from North Charleston, SC, or about 1h 12m 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 28 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.8 miles or 1h 12m 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 56m
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 North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 127.6 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from North Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 63.8 miles from North Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 127.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 642 / Dorchester Road
Turn left onto SC 642 / Dorchester Road
Navigation decision point
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
47.4 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
48.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
127.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.95 one way
$39.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $21.82 | $43.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $23.62 | $47.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.17 | $56.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.40 | $6.12 |
| Efficient EV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.17 | $5.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51 | 0 | $17.86 | $8.17 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Florence, SC
Late night in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 25m 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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
$10
View on nps.gov
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 66
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey taking place on major interstates like I 95 and I 26. You'll experience long stretches of consistent travel, including a significant 73.9-mile segment on I 95 without major interruptions. The road character remains largely the same throughout, emphasizing efficiency over varied scenery. Expect relatively smooth sailing and predictable driving conditions for the majority of the 127.6 miles.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near SC 642 / Dorchester Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (SC 642 / Dorchester Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in North Charleston, SC
Full guide →North Charleston is in the Greater Charleston area. It is the third largest city in South Carolina with a lot of muscle in terms of commerce and consumerism.
Arriving in Florence, SC
Full guide →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.
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 2h 25m. Total distance: 127.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
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.
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 0.3 miles (SC 642 / Dorchester Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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