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Trip from Saint Stephen, SC to North Charleston, SC

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 7, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

53m

Distance

41.8 mi

67 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m

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

Best Time
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Downtown Saint Stephen, SC, SC

Saint Stephen, SC

Ron Lach

city in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, South Carolina, United States

North Charleston, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Saint Stephen, SC to North Charleston, SC is 41.8 miles and takes about 53 minutes via Goose Creek Boulevard South/Byrnes Drive/Rivers Avenue, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in South Carolina. It's a straightforward drive primarily on surface roads, making it a quick and easy transit between these locations. You'll likely find it a practical option for a same-day trip, without the need for an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Goose Creek Boulevard South 17.2 mi 19m
Byrnes Drive 16.1 mi 20m
Rivers Avenue 8.2 mi 12m
Church Road 0.2 mi <1m
Barry Place <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Goose Creek Boulevard South — 17.2 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Stephen, SC and North Charleston, SC.

1

Start on Barry Place

233 ft · 16 sec · Barry Place
2

Turn left onto SC 45

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Church Road
3

Turn left onto US 52

16 mi · 20 min · Byrnes Drive
4

Continue on US 52

5.2 mi · 5 min · Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52

12 mi · 13 min · Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
6

Continue on US 52; US 78

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Rivers Avenue
7

Continue on US 52; US 78

8.0 mi · 12 min · Rivers Avenue
8

Arrive at destination

US 52; US 78

Where to Stop

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

city in South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Goose Creek, SC

21 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

Waylyn, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Moncks Corner, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Saint Stephen, 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

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 21.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SC 45 / Church Road

Turn left onto SC 45 / Church Road

Navigation decision point

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 52 / Byrnes Drive

Turn left onto US 52 / Byrnes Drive

Navigation decision point

6
21.5 mi into trip | ~27m in | US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South

Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.40 one way

$12.81 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.27 $7.03 $14.06
premium $4.64 $7.63 $15.26
diesel $5.60 $9.21 $18.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 12.5 0 $4.39 $2.01
Efficient EV 10.5 0 $3.66 $1.67
EV Truck/SUV 16.7 0 $5.85 $2.68

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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 Aug 27, 2026

Origin

Saint Stephen, SC

Evening in Saint Stephen on Monday

Local time

5:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

S 3 mph 61% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 3:23PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued August 27 at 3:16PM EDT until August 27 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC

Destination

North Charleston, SC

Evening in North Charleston on Monday

Local time

5:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 8 mph 38% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 3:23PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued August 27 at 3:16PM EDT until August 27 at 5:15PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC

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

1 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

53m 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 route is entirely on surface roads, with no highway driving. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 17.2 miles on Goose Creek Boulevard South. Expect a consistent driving experience with frequent intersections and changes in speed limits, typical of navigating through populated areas. You'll be on Goose Creek Boulevard South, Byrnes Drive, and Rivers Avenue for the majority of your travel.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.2 mi on Goose Creek Boulevard South.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 45 / Church Road.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Saint Stephen, SC to North Charleston, SC is easy. At 53m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 45 / Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 52 / Byrnes Drive): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

75 ft 14 ft

Total Climb

57 ft

Total Descent

113 ft

Highest Point

75 ft

Elevation Range

60 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Saint Stephen, SC

Full guide →

Founded 1754

Arriving in North Charleston, SC

Full guide →

Founded 1972

North Charleston is in the Greater Charleston area. It is the third largest city in South Carolina with a lot of muscle in terms of commerce and consumerism.

Top landmarks

  • • H. L. Hunley — submarine
  • • Charleston Naval Shipyard — former U.S. Navy ship building and repair facility located along the west bank o...
  • • Charleston Navy Yard Officers' Quarters Historic District — historic house in South Carolina, United States

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 53m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.2 miles on Goose Creek Boulevard South. 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: near the start (SC 45 / Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 52 / Byrnes Drive): Navigation decision point; at 21.5 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 North 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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