Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Ridgeland, SC to Goose Creek, 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 46m
Distance
77 mi
124 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 38m
★
6 AM
1h 46m
8 AM
2h 2m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 50m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 1m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ridgeland, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Goose Creek, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ridgeland, SC to Goose Creek, SC is 77 miles and takes about 1 hour 46 minutes via US 17 and US 17 Alt, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. With most of the route on highways, you'll find it to be a straightforward trip, suitable for completing in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect a fairly direct path with minimal complexity, making it a good option when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Ridgeland, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 30.7 mi | 33m |
| US 17 Alt | 24.7 mi | 35m |
| Dorchester Road | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Ladson Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Sniders Highway | 3.2 mi | 6m |
| US 78 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| North Jacob Smart Boulevard | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Hampton Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 30.7 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ridgeland, SC and Goose Creek, SC.
1
Start on US 17; US 278
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Jacob Smart Boulevard
2
Take the ramp onto US 17
31 mi
·
33 min
·
US 17
Toward I 95 North, US 17: Florence
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward SC 63: Walterboro
4
Turn straight onto SC 63
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Sniders Highway
5
Turn right onto SC 63
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hampton Street
6
Turn left onto SC 64
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Robertson Boulevard
7
Turn right onto US 17 Alt
25 mi
·
35 min
·
US 17 Alt
8
Turn slight right
206 ft
·
7 sec
9
Continue on SC 642
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Dorchester Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Ladson Road
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Ladson Road
11
Turn right onto US 78
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
US 78
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Goose Creek Road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Goose Creek Road
13
Continue on Goose Creek Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Goose Creek Road
14
Continue on Old State Road
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Old State Road
15
Continue on Old State Road
237 ft
·
14 sec
·
Old State Road
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto The Oaks Avenue
38 ft
·
1 sec
·
The Oaks Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
The Oaks Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering 77 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will ensure you have plenty of daylight for the drive, which should take under two hours. With the fuel cost estimated at $12, filling up before you leave Ridgeland should be sufficient. There are no specific recommended stops, but if you prefer to break up the drive, consider doing so around the halfway point, though it's not strictly necessary for this relatively short distance. Keep an eye out for the transition from US 17 Alt to Dorchester Road as you approach Goose Creek.
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 38.5 miles from Ridgeland, SC, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.7 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goose Creek, 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 77 miles and 1h 46m.
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 US 17 for about 30.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38.5 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.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 77 — 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
4
32.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward SC 63: Walterboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 63: Walterboro
4
36 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
SC 63 / Hampton Street
Turn right onto SC 63 / Hampton Street
Navigation decision point
5
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 78
Turn right onto US 78
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
77 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
Old State Road
Continue onto Old State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.04 one way
$24.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.17 | $26.33 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.25 | $28.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.00 | $34.00 |
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: 26.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $3.70 |
| Efficient EV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.74 | $3.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.78 | $4.93 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Origin
Ridgeland, SC
Late night in Ridgeland on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Goose Creek, SC
Late night in Goose Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
29 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 46m 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.
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$10
near mile 77
View on nps.gov
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 77 miles on primary roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 30.7 miles on US 17. The shift to surface roads will happen on Dorchester Road. Be prepared for frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate the highway sections.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.7 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and US 17 Alt. 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
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 9 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 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 36 miles (SC 63 / Hampton Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.7 miles on US 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 32.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 36 miles (SC 63 / Hampton Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era 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 Goose Creek, 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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