Pamplico, SC to Charleston, SC is 106.6 miles and takes about 2h 33m via South Williamsburg County Highway, Goose Creek Boulevard South, and I 26, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, transitioning from local roads to a major interstate as you approach Charleston. Expect a straightforward drive that's easy to manage in a single day. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct route with minimal complications.
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
53.3 miles from Pamplico, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
South Williamsburg County Highway
37.7 mi
49m
Goose Creek Boulevard South
17.2 mi
19m
I 26
12 mi
15m
North Williamsburg County Highway
11.1 mi
13m
US 378
5.5 mi
6m
South Friendfield Road
4.2 mi
10m
Hyman Road
4 mi
9m
South Ron McNair Boulevard
2.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
South Williamsburg County Highway
— 37.7 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pamplico, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on State Road S-21-132
40 ft·8 sec·North Walnut Street
2
Continue on North Walnut Street
75 ft·4 sec·North Walnut Street
3
Turn right onto SC 51
1.9 mi·3 min·North Pamplico Highway
4
Turn left onto Hyman Road
4.0 mi·9 min·Hyman Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto South Friendfield Road
4.2 mi·10 min·South Friendfield Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 378
5.5 mi·6 min·US 378
7
Turn left onto US 378 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·East Myrtle Beach Highway
8
Continue on US 378 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·North Church Street
9
Turn right onto East Thomas Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Thomas Street
10
Turn left onto US 52
2.5 mi·4 min·South Ron McNair Boulevard
11
Continue on US 52
11 mi·13 min·North Williamsburg County Highway
12
Continue on US 52
1.7 mi·3 min·Longstreet Street
13
Turn right onto US 52; SC 261
0.2 mi·10 sec·West Main Street
14
Continue on US 52; SC 261
38 mi·49 min·South Williamsburg County Highway
15
Continue on US 17 Alternate; US 52
0.6 mi·1 min·US 17 Alternate; US 52
16
Continue on US 52; US 17 Alternate
1.1 mi·2 min·US 52; US 17 Alternate
17
Continue on US 52; SC 6 Truck
1.2 mi·1 min·US 52; SC 6 Truck
18
Continue on US 52
5.2 mi·5 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
12 mi·13 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 52; US 78
0.2 mi·15 sec·Rivers Avenue
21
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
23
Merge onto I 26
12 mi·15 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 221BToward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
25
Turn right onto US 52
1.6 mi·3 min·Meeting Street
Use the right lane.
26
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
27
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 33 minutes, this drive is easily completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for any unexpected delays or spontaneous stops. You’ll want to keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the initial 37.7-mile stretch on South Williamsburg County Highway, as services might be more spread out on local roads. It's wise to fill up before leaving Pamplico to ensure a smooth journey to Charleston.
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 53.3 miles from Pamplico, SC, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.7 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 23 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.3 miles or 1h 23m 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 Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pamplico, 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 Pamplico, SC
This is one driving day of about 106.6 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Pamplico, 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 South Williamsburg County Highway for about 37.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 105.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.9 mi into trip|~13m in|South Friendfield Road
At end of road, turn left onto South Friendfield Road
Navigation decision point
6
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m in|US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
92.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 26 East: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
6
104.7 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
6
105.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|US 52 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto US 52 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.67 one way
$33.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.23
$36.45
premium
$4.70
$19.73
$39.46
diesel
$5.61
$23.54
$47.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32
0
$11.19
$5.12
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.33
$4.26
EV Truck/SUV
42.6
0
$14.92
$6.82
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Pamplico, SC
Morning
in Pamplico on Sunday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Charleston, SC
Morning
in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
10:18 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
32 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
2h 33m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a turn-heavy local drive for a significant portion, with only 19% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.7 miles on South Williamsburg County Highway before transitioning to Goose Creek Boulevard South and eventually merging onto I 26. The initial miles will feel more like navigating local roads, offering a different pace than a pure interstate experience. Be prepared for more frequent turns and changes in speed limits as you start your journey.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.7 mi on South Williamsburg County Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in near South Friendfield Road.
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 106.6 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 5.9 miles (South Friendfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 79.2 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Charleston is the largest and oldest city in the state of South Carolina in the United States of America. Its historic downtown is on a peninsula formed by two rivers, the Ashley and the Cooper, flowing into the Atlantic, and protected from the open ocean by surrounding islands. Charleston was captured in the American Civil War without much property damage, so the historic part of town has buildings that are hundreds of years old. The current downtown skyline, with practically no tall buildings due to the city's height restriction ordinance, is dominated by church steeples and the stunning Arthur Ravenel cable-stay bridge over the Cooper River. The city is a major port on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and a popular destination for domestic and international tourists.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 106.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.7 miles on South Williamsburg County Highway. 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 Charleston, 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: at 5.9 miles (South Friendfield Road): Navigation decision point; at 79.2 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Charleston, SC before heading back.
