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Trip from Ridgeland, SC to Charleston, SC

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

Drive Time

1h 43m

Distance

75.1 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 36m ★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in South Carolina, United States

Ridgeland, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 75.1-mile drive from Ridgeland, SC to Charleston, SC is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 1 hour and 43 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of around $12, it's an economical choice for exploring the Southeast region. The journey primarily utilizes Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Trask Parkway, offering a mixed driving experience. Since there are no recommended stops, you can tailor your timing to fit your schedule, making it a flexible option for a day trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.6 miles from Ridgeland, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Savannah Highway 29.7 mi 43m
Ace Basin Parkway 17.1 mi 22m
Trask Parkway 12.7 mi 16m
US 17 10.7 mi 11m
North Jacob Smart Boulevard 1.7 mi 2m
Kings Highway 1.2 mi 1m
Lockwood Drive 0.9 mi 2m
Broad Street 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Savannah Highway — 29.7 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ridgeland, SC and Charleston, SC.

1

Start on US 17; US 278

1.7 mi · 2 min · North Jacob Smart Boulevard
2

Take the ramp onto US 17

10 mi · 11 min · US 17
Toward I 95 North, US 17: Florence
3

Take the exit onto US 17

0.4 mi · 30 sec · US 17
Toward US 17 North: Charleston, Beaufort
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 17

0.1 mi · 12 sec · US 17
5

Merge onto US 17

1.2 mi · 1 min · Kings Highway
6

Continue on US 17

13 mi · 16 min · Trask Parkway
7

Continue on US 17

17 mi · 22 min · Ace Basin Parkway
8

Continue on US 17

30 mi · 43 min · Savannah Highway
9

Take the exit

441 ft · 12 sec
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 15 sec
11

Turn straight onto Lockwood Drive

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lockwood Drive
12

Continue on Broad Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Arrive at destination

Broad Street

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just over an hour and a half, this route offers excellent flexibility. You can depart Ridgeland at your leisure, as there's no need to break up the drive with overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost of $12 is quite manageable, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you set off. Keep an eye on your GPS for the transitions between Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Trask Parkway, as these shifts mark the changing character of the drive as you get closer 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.6 miles from Ridgeland, SC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 17 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.6 miles or 47m 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 Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ridgeland, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Ridgeland, SC

This is one driving day of about 75.1 miles and 1h 43m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Ridgeland, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 29.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Ravenel, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ravenel, SC

38 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

Yemassee, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Walterboro, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.6 miles from Ridgeland, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Muddy Waters Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Charleston, South Carolina

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 69.8

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+18433438937

Visit website

Top Coffee Stop

Bitty and Beau’s Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Charleston, South Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 75.1

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18436090455

Visit website

The Black Door Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Charleston, South Carolina

0.1 mi

Kudu - Coffee, Craft Beer & Wine

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Charleston, South Carolina

0.8 mi

Muddy Waters Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 69.8

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–6 pm

+18433438937

Visit website

Second State Coffee

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 75.1

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Bitty and Beau’s Coffee

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18436090455

Visit website

The Black Door Cafe

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–8 pm

+18435772400

Visit website

Kudu - Coffee, Craft Beer & Wine

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

Visit website

Cafe Charlotte

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 69.8

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Visit website

Bad Bunnies Coffee

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 7:30 am–2 pm

+18434147777

Visit website

Second State Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour Moderately mile 69.8

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 7 am–5 pm

Visit website

Highfalutin Coffee Roasters

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 69.8

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 6:30 am–5 pm

+18435017859

Visit website

Sightsee Shop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 7:30 am–3 pm

+18432126538

Visit website

Time Traveler Adventures

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 11 am–1 pm

+18435017924

Visit website

Charleston Sole Walking Tours

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18433648272

Visit website

Gullah Tours

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

1 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 75.1

Charleston, South Carolina

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+18437637551

Visit website

Adventure Harbour Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 75.1

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+18434429455

Visit website

Shem Creek Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 75.1

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

Hours: 5 am–12 pm

+18438844440

Visit website

On Purpose Adventures

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 75.1

Mt Pleasant, South Carolina

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+18548889893

Visit website

James Island County Park

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 69.8

Charleston, South Carolina

+18434066990

Visit website

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 1.7 and 73.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
1.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 17

Take the ramp onto US 17 toward I 95 North, US 17: Florence

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 95 North, US 17: Florence
5
11.9 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 17

Take the exit onto US 17 toward US 17 North: Charleston, Beaufort

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 17 North: Charleston, Beaufort
4
12.3 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 17

Keep slight left at fork onto US 17

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

3
12.4 mi into trip | ~14m in | US 17 / Kings Highway

Merge onto US 17 / Kings Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
73.3 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.74 one way

$23.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $12.84 $25.68
premium $4.70 $13.90 $27.80
diesel $5.61 $16.58 $33.16

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

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.5 0 $7.89 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.57 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.51 $4.81

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 15, 2026

Origin

Ridgeland, SC

Late night in Ridgeland on Sunday

Local time

12:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Charleston, SC

Late night in Charleston on Sunday

Local time

12:37 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

6 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

1h 43m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

The drive features a 54% highway share, meaning you'll experience both faster-paced travel and more local road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.7 miles on Savannah Highway, providing a good opportunity to settle in. The 'Mixed drive' profile suggests a varied journey, likely transitioning from more open roads to potentially more developed areas as you approach Charleston. Expect a dynamic driving experience that keeps things interesting without being overly complex.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.7 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 1.7 miles in near US 17.

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 1h 43m 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 1.7 miles (US 17): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles (US 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Ridgeland, SC to Charleston, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Beaufort along the way.

Beaufort

11.9 mi in | ~13m | via US 17

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 29.7 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 1.7 miles (US 17): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.3 miles (US 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charleston, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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