Traveling from Ridgeland to Florence covers 144.7 miles through the heart of South Carolina. You can expect a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 41 minutes, making this an ideal one-day excursion that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your journey will primarily utilize US 17, transitioning into local connectors like North Jacob Smart Boulevard and West Evans Street as you reach your destination. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, it is a budget-friendly trip for anyone looking to navigate the Southeast corridor. Because the route remains within the same state, you will experience a consistent regional feel from departure to arrival. It is a straightforward, practical route that offers enough efficiency to keep your travel plans simple and stress-free.
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
72.3 miles from Ridgeland, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
137.5 mi
2h 27m
West Evans Street
2.4 mi
4m
North Jacob Smart Boulevard
1.7 mi
2m
I 20 Bus
1.6 mi
2m
West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
1m
Warley Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 137.5 mi, about 2h 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgeland, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on US 17; US 278
1.7 mi·2 min·North Jacob Smart Boulevard
2
Take the ramp onto US 17
137 mi·2 hr 27 min·US 17
Toward I 95 North, US 17: FlorenceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
4
Merge onto I 20 Bus
1.6 mi·2 min·I 20 Bus
5
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
6
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Warley Street
7
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Cheves Street
8
Turn right
133 ft·11 sec
9
Turn right
50 ft·3 sec
10
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic. Plan for at least one stop during your 144.7-mile trek to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since the longest stretch spans nearly the entire duration of the drive. Budgeting around $23 for fuel should cover your needs, but keeping an eye on your gauge during the 137.5-mile US 17 segment is a smart move. Because the route relies so heavily on a single main highway, check for any major construction or delays on US 17 before you head out. Embracing the simplicity of this route allows you to reach Florence quickly without the need for complex multi-day planning.
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 72.3 miles from Ridgeland, SC, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.5 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 32 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 18m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, 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.
+
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 Ridgeland, SC
This is one driving day of about 144.7 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Ridgeland, 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 US 17 for about 137.5 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 144.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~2m in|US 17
Take the ramp onto US 17 toward I 95 North, US 17: Florence
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, US 17: Florence
4
139.2 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 20 Business East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
4
143.8 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|Warley Street
Turn right onto Warley Street
Navigation decision point
4
144 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|West Cheves Street
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
Navigation decision point
5
144.7 mi into trip|~2h 41m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.63 one way
$45.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.74
$49.48
premium
$4.70
$26.78
$53.56
diesel
$5.61
$31.95
$63.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.19
$6.95
Efficient EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
EV Truck/SUV
57.9
0
$20.26
$9.26
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Ridgeland, SC
Late night
in Ridgeland on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
23 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
2h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is defined by a significant 96% highway share, prioritizing speed and directness over winding backroads. You will spend the vast majority of your time on US 17, which accounts for a substantial 137.5-mile uninterrupted stretch. Behind the wheel, you should expect a steady pace as you move through the Southeast landscape. The transition from the highway onto local roads like West Evans Street signals the final approach, shifting the experience from high-speed transit to a slower, urban arrival. Because the road is dominated by long, consistent segments, it is a great choice if you prefer a predictable, low-stress driving environment.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.5 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and West Evans Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near US 17.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Ridgeland, SC to Florence, SC is easy. At 2h 41m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 17): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 143.8 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.
Florence is a city in the Pee Dee Country Region of South Carolina. It was the site of the Florence Stockade, a Confederate POW camp, notably bad but still maybe not as bad as Andersonville, then a railroad hub, and nowadays a regional center for medical care and manufacturing, including as it sits at the terminus for I-20. Even though it got started rather late, in 1871, it's more or less the hub for northeastern South Carolina, aka Pee Dee Country.
The longest stretch is about 137.5 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.7 miles (US 17): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 139.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 143.8 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Florence, SC before heading back.
