Origin
Simpsonville, SC
Morning in Simpsonville on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Simpsonville, SC to Spartanburg, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
31.1 mi
50 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Simpsonville, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion between Simpsonville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, you can expect a straightforward journey covering approximately 27.8 miles. This trip typically takes about 41 minutes to complete, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day outing that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate via Hedge Street, East Curtis Street, and Northeast Main Street rather than taking the interstate, as this route has a highway share of 0%. With fuel costs estimated at just $4, it is an incredibly budget-friendly connection within the Southeast region. Whether you are heading out for business or a brief visit, this drive offers a practical way to move between these two South Carolina cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 13.8 mi | 17m |
| Warren H Abernathy Highway | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Golden Strip Freeway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| W O Ezell Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Main Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| West Saint John Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Church Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 13.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Simpsonville, SC and Spartanburg, SC.
1
Start on this road
107 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
175 ft
·
17 sec
3
Turn left onto Hedge Street
146 ft
·
11 sec
·
Hedge Street
4
Turn left onto SC 417
374 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Curtis Street
5
Turn right onto SC 14; SC 417
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Northeast Main Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
7
Merge onto I 385
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden Strip Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 35; 36A-B
Toward I 85, SC 146: Spartanburg, Atlanta, Woodruff Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 85: Spartanburg, Atlanta, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
1.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 36A
Toward I 85 North: Spartanburg, GSP International Airport
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 85
14 mi
·
17 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 66
Toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn slight left
128 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Use the slight left lane.
14
Turn right onto US 29
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Warren H Abernathy Highway
15
Continue on US 29
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
W O Ezell Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 29
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
17
Turn left onto US 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint John Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto US 221; SC 56
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Church Street
19
Arrive at destination
US 221; SC 56
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Simpsonville, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 22.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
6.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 85, SC 146: Spartanburg, Atlanta, Woodruff Road
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 35; 36A-B
Toward I 85, SC 146: Spartanburg, Atlanta, Wood...
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85: Spartanburg, Atlanta, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85: Spartanburg, Atlanta, Greenville-S...
9
7.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 85 North: Spartanburg, GSP International Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 36A
Toward I 85 North: Spartanburg, GSP Internation...
8
22.4 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 66
Toward US 29: Spartanburg-West, Wellford
6
22.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Turn slight left toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 29 South: Lyman, Wellford
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.86 one way
$9.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.76 | $11.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.27 | $1.49 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.72 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.35 | $1.99 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Spartanburg, SC
Morning in Spartanburg on Sunday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Duncan, SC
16 mi in
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
10 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel for the entire 27.8-mile duration. Since the route avoids highways entirely, you will spend your time navigating local surface streets rather than cruising at high speeds on an interstate. You will find no long, straight stretches here, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Hedge Street. This creates a personality defined by constant movement and frequent turns, requiring your full attention as you transition through the local infrastructure. It is a far cry from a monotonous highway grind, offering a more hands-on experience through the heart of the region.
57% 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: 13.8 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 31.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Simpsonville, SC and Spartanburg, SC, road signs point toward Atlanta, Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, Gsp International Airport and Wellford.
Atlanta
6.4 mi in
|
~9m
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport
6.7 mi in
|
~10m
Gsp International Airport
7.3 mi in
|
~11m
Wellford
22.4 mi in
|
~30m
About the Cities
Arriving in Spartanburg, SC
Full guide →Spartanburg is both a county and city in Upcountry South Carolina.
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 46m. Total distance: 31.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.8 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Spartanburg, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 6.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield. 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 Spartanburg, 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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