Origin
Spartanburg, SC
Late night in Spartanburg on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spartanburg, SC to Beaufort, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 18m
Distance
223.8 mi
360 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 5m
★
6 AM
4h 18m
8 AM
4h 45m
10 AM
4h 28m
12 PM
4h 25m
3 PM
4h 29m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Beaufort, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spartanburg to Beaufort is 223.8 miles and takes about 4h 18m via I 26 and I 95, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving from the Upstate region to the Lowcountry. You'll be on the highway for most of the drive, covering 94% of the route on interstates. It's a straightforward trip, largely characterized by efficient interstate travel, making it a good option for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
111.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 139.6 mi | 2h 32m |
| I 95 | 46.9 mi | 50m |
| Trask Parkway | 18.1 mi | 22m |
| North Church Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| US 17 Alt | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Boundary Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| Highway 221 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Yemassee Highway | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 139.6 mi, about 2h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spartanburg, SC and Beaufort, SC.
1
Start on US 221; SC 56
6.0 mi
·
10 min
·
North Church Street
2
Continue on US 221
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 221
3
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
4
Merge onto I 26
79 mi
·
1 hr 26 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
60 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 26
Toward Charleston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169A
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
7
Merge onto I 95
47 mi
·
50 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
10
Turn straight onto SC 68
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Yemassee Highway
11
Turn slight right onto SC 68
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Connelly Street
12
Turn right onto US 17 Alt; US 21
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
US 17 Alt; US 21
13
Merge onto US 17; US 21
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Trask Parkway
14
Take the exit onto US 21
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 21
15
Merge onto US 21
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Trask Parkway
16
Continue on US 21
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Boundary Street
17
Continue on US 21 Business
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Carteret Street
18
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Port Republic Street
19
Arrive at destination
Port Republic Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 18m drive time, starting your trip in Spartanburg in the morning will allow you to reach Beaufort with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll be on the road for a significant stretch, so plan for one stop to break up the drive, especially considering the longest continuous driving segment is 139.6 miles on I 26. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $35, and ensure you refuel before leaving the interstate system, as services may be more spread out once you transition to Trask Parkway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.6 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 49 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.9 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg, SC
This is one driving day of about 223.8 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Spartanburg, 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 I 26 for about 139.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 139.6 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 196.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
88 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
5
148.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169A
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
149.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 49m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
196.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.00 one way
$69.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $38.27 | $76.53 |
| premium | $4.70 | $41.42 | $82.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.41 | $98.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.1 | 0 | $23.50 | $10.74 |
| Efficient EV | 56 | 0 | $19.58 | $8.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.5 | 1 | $31.33 | $14.32 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Beaufort, SC
Late night in Beaufort on Tuesday
Local time
5:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
4 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
4h 18m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 223.8
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 115.7
View on nps.gov
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
14 mi from route
~36 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 94% of the 223.8 miles on interstates like I 26 and I 95. You'll experience a long stretch of 139.6 miles on I 26 before transitioning. Trask Parkway marks the end of the main highway section, where you'll shift to surface roads for the final part of your trip. Expect a high volume of exits and merges as you navigate the interstate system for the majority of this drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.6 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near I 26.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 223.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 88 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Spartanburg, SC and Beaufort, SC, road signs point toward Charleston and Yemassee.
Charleston
88 mi in
|
~1h 41m
|
via I 26
Yemassee
196 mi in
|
~3h 40m
About the Cities
Starting in Spartanburg, SC
Full guide →Spartanburg is both a county and city in Upcountry South Carolina.
Arriving in Beaufort, SC
Full guide →Beaufort is a coastal town in the Low Country of 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 4h 18m. Total distance: 223.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.6 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Beaufort, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 88 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, Congaree National Park and Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Beaufort, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Beaufort, SC
More trips to Beaufort, SC
Explore more options from Spartanburg, SC or browse trips ending in Beaufort, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.