Origin
Piedmont, SC
Late night in Piedmont on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Piedmont, SC to Spartanburg, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
40.2 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Piedmont, SC
Samuele Pellegrino
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Piedmont, SC to Spartanburg, SC is 40.2 miles and takes about 58m via I 85, Warren H Abernathy Highway, and Southern Connector, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The drive is mostly on the interstate, making it a straightforward journey. It’s a practical option for a short hop, easily manageable in under an hour. Consider this route for its simplicity and speed if you're looking for a direct connection between these two locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 23.4 mi | 29m |
| Warren H Abernathy Highway | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Southern Connector | 3.7 mi | 4m |
| Piedmont Highway | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| W O Ezell Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| West Saint John Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 23.4 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Piedmont, SC and Spartanburg, SC.
1
Start on Iler Street
180 ft
·
7 sec
·
Iler Street
2
Turn slight right onto SC 86
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Anderson Street
3
Continue on SC 86
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto SC 20
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Piedmont Highway
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
6
Merge onto I 185
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Southern Connector
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 85 North: Spartanburg
8
Merge onto I 85
23 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 66
Toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight left
128 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Use the slight left lane.
11
Turn right onto US 29
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Warren H Abernathy Highway
12
Continue on US 29
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
W O Ezell Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 29
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
14
Turn left onto US 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint John Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto US 221; SC 56
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Church Street
16
Arrive at destination
US 221; SC 56
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Piedmont, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 39.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
SC 20 / Piedmont Highway
Turn left onto SC 20 / Piedmont Highway
Navigation decision point
5
8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
31.4 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
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 66
Toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
6
31.7 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Turn slight left toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
6
39.3 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
US 29 / West Saint John Street
Turn left onto US 29 / West Saint John Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.29 one way
$12.57 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.87 | $13.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.44 | $14.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.88 | $17.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.63 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Spartanburg, SC
Late night in Spartanburg on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
SW 2 to 14 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
86°F
Five Forks, SC
20 mi in
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
2 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
58m 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 is a mixed drive with 58% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I 85, Warren H Abernathy Highway, and the Southern Connector, indicating a blend of interstate speeds and possibly some arterial road sections. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 23.4 miles on I 85, suggesting a solid period of consistent highway travel. Expect a relatively fast-paced journey, especially on the interstate portions, with opportunities to pick up speed. The drive's character is primarily functional, designed for efficient travel between the two points.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.4 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near SC 20 / Piedmont Highway.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 40.2 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.7 miles (SC 20 / Piedmont Highway): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Piedmont, SC to Spartanburg, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Wellford along the way.
Wellford
31.4 mi in
|
~41m
About the Cities
Arriving in Spartanburg, SC
Full guide →Spartanburg is both a county and city in Upcountry South Carolina.
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 58m. Total distance: 40.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.4 miles on I 85. 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 Spartanburg, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.7 miles (SC 20 / Piedmont Highway): Navigation decision point; at 8 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield. 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 Spartanburg, 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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