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Trip from Rock Hill, SC to Lakewood, SC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 47m

Distance

79.8 mi

128 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 24 min
4 AM
1h 39m ★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 53m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 54m
5 PM
2h 3m
8 PM
1h 43m

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

city in York County, South Carolina, United States

Rock Hill, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lakewood, SC, SC

Lakewood, SC

Jacob Evans

Trip Overview

Rock Hill, SC to Lakewood, SC is 79.8 miles and takes about 1h 47m via I 20 and Camden Highway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip primarily within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The drive offers a mixed experience, so expect some interstate cruising alongside local road segments. It's a manageable distance, making it ideal for a quick getaway or a practical transfer between locations without requiring an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

39.9 miles from Rock Hill, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 28.9 mi 33m
Monticello Road 12.8 mi 22m
Camden Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Thomas Sumter Highway 7.6 mi 8m
Sumter Highway 7 mi 7m
State Highway 215S 6.4 mi 11m
North Guignard Drive 3.6 mi 4m
Old Manning Road 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 28.9 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rock Hill, SC and Lakewood, SC.

1

Start on SC 215

6.4 mi · 11 min · State Highway 215S
2

Continue on SC 215

13 mi · 22 min · Monticello Road
3

Turn left onto Buckner Road

338 ft · 8 sec · Buckner Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5

Merge onto I 20

29 mi · 33 min · I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Exit 98 Toward US 521: Sumter, Camden Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto US 521

7.0 mi · 7 min · Sumter Highway
8

Continue on US 521

6.2 mi · 7 min · Camden Highway
9

Continue on US 521

7.6 mi · 8 min · Thomas Sumter Highway
10

Continue on US 521

1.9 mi · 2 min · Camden Highway
11

Turn slight left onto US 521; US 76 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
12

Turn slight right onto US 521

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bultman Drive
13

Continue on US 521

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Guignard Drive
14

Continue on US 521

0.2 mi · 12 sec · South Guignard Parkway
15

Turn right onto US 15

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Pocalla Road
16

Continue on US 15

1.2 mi · 1 min · Summerton Highway
17

Turn left onto Old Manning Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Old Manning Road
18

Turn right onto Spoonville Lane

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Spoonville Lane
19

Arrive at destination

Spoonville Lane

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under two hours, this is a flexible drive that you can easily complete in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since the longest stretch on I 20 is 28.9 miles, you can plan for a fuel stop before getting on that section if needed, as services might be more spread out. The estimated fuel cost of $12 suggests this is an economical trip, but it's always wise to check current prices. Given the short duration, you won't need extensive rest stops, but a quick break midway is always a good idea.

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 39.9 miles from Rock Hill, SC, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.9 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 18 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.9 miles or 58m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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

Day 1

Settle into the route from Rock Hill, SC

This is one driving day of about 79.8 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Rock Hill, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 28.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Camden, SC

40 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

Saint Andrews, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lugoff, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.9 miles from Rock Hill, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 19.2 and 76.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
19.2 mi into trip | ~33m in | Buckner Road

Turn left onto Buckner Road

Navigation decision point

4
19.3 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Florence

Navigation decision point

Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
19.5 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48.4 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward US 521: Sumter, Camden

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 98 Toward US 521: Sumter, Camden
4
76.8 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | US 15 / Pocalla Road

Turn right onto US 15 / Pocalla Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.48 one way

$24.96 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $13.64 $27.29
premium $4.70 $14.77 $29.54
diesel $5.61 $17.62 $35.24

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

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.9 0 $8.38 $3.83
Efficient EV 20 0 $6.98 $3.19
EV Truck/SUV 31.9 0 $11.17 $5.11

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 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 20, 2026

Origin

Rock Hill, SC

Late night in Rock Hill on Tuesday

Local time

5:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lakewood, SC

Late night in Lakewood on Tuesday

Local time

5:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

83°F

Camden, SC

40 mi in

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 47m 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?

This route features a 45% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your drive on I 20. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 28.9 miles on I 20, providing an opportunity for steady progress. Beyond the interstate, the drive transitions to roads like Monticello Road and Camden Highway, introducing a more local feel. The profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a blend of faster highway travel and potentially slower, more scenic or residential road segments as you approach your destination.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.9 mi on I 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

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 19.2 miles in near Buckner Road.

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 47m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (Buckner Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Rock Hill, SC to Lakewood, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Camden along the way.

Camden

48.4 mi in | ~1h 7m

About the Cities

Starting in Rock Hill, SC

Full guide →

Founded 1852

Rock Hill is a small city in the Olde English District of South Carolina approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Charlotte and 70 miles (110 km) north of Columbia. Rock Hill is essentially a commuter town and not on many tourists' radar, but does offer numerous outdoor activities and dining options.

Top landmarks

  • Rock Hill Downtown Historic District — historic church in South Carolina, United States
  • U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (Rock Hill) — historic building in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States
  • Withers Building — historic building on Winthrop University campus, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S....

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 1h 47m. Total distance: 79.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 28.9 miles on I 20. 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 19.2 miles (Buckner Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lakewood, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Lakewood, SC to Rock Hill, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

79.7 mi 1h 47m

Explore more options from Rock Hill, SC or browse trips ending in Lakewood, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.