North Charleston, SC to Port Royal, SC is 73.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Trask Parkway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, taking you through the Southeast region on a drive that offers a mixed experience. It's a relatively short journey, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. You'll find this route offers a straightforward path to your destination, suitable for those prioritizing efficiency.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from North Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Savannah Highway
25.2 mi
34m
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi
22m
Trask Parkway
12 mi
14m
Charleston Highway
5.6 mi
7m
Parris Island Gateway
5.5 mi
7m
Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
3.8 mi
6m
Cosgrove Avenue
2 mi
3m
Ribaut Road
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 25.2 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston, SC and Port Royal, SC.
1
Start on US 52; US 78
0.1 mi·13 sec·Rivers Avenue
2
Turn left onto SC 7
2.0 mi·3 min·Cosgrove Avenue
3
Continue on SC 7
0.8 mi·1 min·Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
4
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 7
3.0 mi·5 min·Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
5
Turn right onto US 17
25 mi·34 min·Savannah Highway
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
7
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
9
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft·2 sec·Trask Parkway
10
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
11
Turn right onto US 21
5.5 mi·7 min·Parris Island Gateway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 21
0.6 mi·1 min·Russell Bell Bridge
13
Continue on US 21
1.1 mi·1 min·Ribaut Road
14
Turn right onto Paris Avenue
0.4 mi·40 sec·Paris Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Paris Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 41-minute duration, this is a perfect same-day trip, so you can leave anytime that suits your schedule. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's budget-friendly. There are no specific stops recommended, so you have the flexibility to pull over if needed or push through to Port Royal without interruption. Pay attention to the transitions between Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Trask Parkway, as these shifts can sometimes involve changes in road conditions or speed limits.
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 36.9 miles from North Charleston, SC, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.2 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 52m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Royal, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from North Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 25.2 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 73.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.9 mi into trip|~4m in|SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
6 mi into trip|~10m in|US 17 / Savannah Highway
Turn right onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
54.1 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|Trask Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
66.1 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 21 / Parris Island Gateway
Turn right onto US 21 / Parris Island Gateway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|Paris Avenue
Turn right onto Paris Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.53 one way
$23.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.60
$25.20
premium
$4.70
$13.64
$27.28
diesel
$5.61
$16.27
$32.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.1
0
$7.74
$3.54
Efficient EV
18.4
0
$6.45
$2.95
EV Truck/SUV
29.5
0
$10.32
$4.72
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Morning
in North Charleston on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Royal, SC
Morning
in Port Royal on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
26 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
1h 41m 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.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
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?
This route features a mix of driving experiences, with 40% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 25.2 miles along Savannah Highway, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to Ace Basin Parkway and Trask Parkway, expect the character of the drive to evolve, potentially introducing more local traffic or varied speed limits. This blend means you won't be stuck on one type of road for the entire trip, providing a dynamic feel behind the wheel.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on Savannah Highway.
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 2.9 miles in near SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 41m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6 miles (US 17 / Savannah Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.1 miles (Trask Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on Savannah Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 2.9 miles (SC 7 / Sam Rittenberg Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6 miles (US 17 / Savannah Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 54.1 miles (Trask Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and 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 Port Royal, SC before heading back.
