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Trip from North Charleston, SC to Gloverville, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h

Distance

135.2 mi

218 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 49m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 53m

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

city in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, South Carolina, United States

North Charleston, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Gloverville, SC, SC

Gloverville, SC

Daniel Sell

Trip Overview

North Charleston, SC to Gloverville, SC is 135 miles and takes about 3 hours via I 26 and SC 394, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within South Carolina, making for a straightforward excursion. You'll experience a mixed drive, transitioning from interstate speeds to more local roads as you approach your destination. It's a manageable distance, ideal for a single day of travel without feeling rushed.

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

67.6 miles from North Charleston, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 61 mi 1h 7m
North Road 16.3 mi 24m
SC 394 15.2 mi 24m
Wagener Road 12.8 mi 19m
Salley Road 7.6 mi 10m
Five Chop Road 6.4 mi 8m
Augusta Road 4 mi 7m
Richland Avenue West 3.5 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 61 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston, SC and Gloverville, 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

61 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 154-A Toward US 301 South: Orangeburg
6

Merge onto US 301

6.4 mi · 8 min · Five Chop Road
7

Turn right onto US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck

1.1 mi · 1 min · Whittaker Parkway
8

Continue on US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck

3.1 mi · 4 min · Chestnut Street
9

Continue on US 178

16 mi · 24 min · North Road
10

Turn left onto SC 394

7.0 mi · 9 min · Salley Road
11

Enter roundabout onto SC 394

146 ft · 2 sec · SC 394
12

Continue on SC 394

15 mi · 24 min · SC 394
13

At end of road, turn right onto SC 4

0.6 mi · 1 min · Salley Road
14

Continue on SC 4; SC 302

13 mi · 19 min · Wagener Road
15

Continue on US 78

2.4 mi · 3 min · Richland Avenue East
16

Continue on US 1; US 78; SC 19

3.5 mi · 5 min · Richland Avenue West
17

Turn left onto SC 118; SC 19 Truck

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Hitchcock Parkway
18

Turn right onto SC 421

4.0 mi · 7 min · Augusta Road
19

Arrive at destination

SC 421

Trip Plan

With a 3-hour drive time, leaving in the morning from North Charleston allows ample time to reach Gloverville without needing an overnight stay. Since the longest continuous stretch on the interstate is 61 miles, plan for a brief stop around the halfway point if needed, perhaps before transitioning off I 26. Given the reasonable fuel cost of approximately $21 for this 135-mile trip, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling. Take advantage of the single recommended stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.6 miles from North Charleston, SC, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61 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 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 67.6 miles or 1h 16m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gloverville, 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 135.2 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from North Charleston, 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 26 for about 61 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Gaston, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Gaston, SC

68 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

Summerville, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brookdale, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 67.6 miles from North Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 68.8 — 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

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 26 West: Columbia

Navigation decision point

Toward I 26 West: Columbia
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
62.2 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward US 301 South: Orangeburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 154-A Toward US 301 South: Orangeburg
4
68.8 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck / Whittaker Parkway

Turn right onto US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck / Whittaker Parkway

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.14 one way

$42.28 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $23.12 $46.23
premium $4.70 $25.02 $50.05
diesel $5.61 $29.85 $59.70

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: 47.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.6 0 $14.20 $6.49
Efficient EV 33.8 0 $11.83 $5.41
EV Truck/SUV 54.1 0 $18.93 $8.65

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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 18, 2026

Origin

North Charleston, SC

Late night in North Charleston on Sunday

Local time

4:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Gloverville, SC

Late night in Gloverville on Sunday

Local time

4:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

89°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

5 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

3h 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

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

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...

20 mi from route ~49 min detour Free near mile 79.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is about 57% highway, with the longest stretch on I 26 covering 61 miles. You'll transition from interstate cruising to surface roads around North Road and SC 394. Expect a mix of faster-paced interstate driving and more moderate speeds on the latter part of the route.

57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61 mi on I 26.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 3h drive. You will face about 11 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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.

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 3h. Total distance: 135.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (57%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 61 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 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.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Gloverville, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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