Spartanburg, SC to Lakewood, SC is 141.8 miles and takes about 2h 57m via I 26 and Garners Ferry Road, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily traversing South Carolina. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that’s easy to manage. Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition from interstate to local roads. This route is a practical option for a quick journey between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
70.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
79.4 mi
1h 26m
Garners Ferry Road
36.2 mi
45m
North Church Street
6 mi
10m
North Guignard Drive
3.6 mi
4m
I 126
3.4 mi
4m
Highway 221
2.5 mi
4m
Gervais Street
1.9 mi
4m
Old Manning Road
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 26m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 33 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,875 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,512
Quietest
2 AM
~142 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spartanburg, SC and Lakewood, 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 left at fork onto I 126; US 76
3.4 mi·4 min·I 126; US 76
Toward I 126, US 76: ColumbiaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Huger StreetUse the slight right lane.
7
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
0.7 mi·1 min·Huger Street
8
Turn left onto Gervais Street
1.9 mi·4 min·Gervais Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto US 76; US 378
1.4 mi·2 min·Millwood Avenue
10
Continue on US 76; US 378
1.3 mi·2 min·Devine Street
11
Continue on US 76; US 378
36 mi·45 min·Garners Ferry Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Broad Street
13
Turn slight right onto US 521
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
14
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi·4 min·North Guignard Drive
15
Continue on US 521
0.2 mi·12 sec·South Guignard Parkway
16
Turn right onto US 15
0.1 mi·15 sec·Pocalla Road
17
Continue on US 15
1.2 mi·1 min·Summerton Highway
18
Turn left onto Old Manning Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Old Manning Road
19
Turn right onto Spoonville Lane
0.2 mi·35 sec·Spoonville Lane
20
Arrive at destination
Spoonville Lane
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 57 minute estimated duration, this is comfortably a same-day trip. Leaving Spartanburg in the morning should allow you to reach Lakewood with plenty of daylight. While there's only one recommended stop, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the longest 79.4-mile stretch on I 26, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $22 suggests this is an economical drive, so budget accordingly. Enjoy the flexibility of a shorter route where you can easily adjust your departure time.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
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 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 141.8 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 79.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 133.3 — 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.
8
88 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 126; US 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76 toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 126, US 76: Columbia
6
91.4 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward Huger Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Huger Street
4
92.4 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|Gervais Street
Turn left onto Gervais Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|US 76 Business / Broad Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business / Broad Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.55 one way
$45.11 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$24.59
$49.18
premium
$4.78
$26.68
$53.36
diesel
$5.35
$29.87
$59.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.89
$6.81
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.41
$5.67
EV Truck/SUV
56.7
0
$19.85
$9.08
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Spartanburg, SC
Evening
in Spartanburg on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
0 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lakewood, SC
Evening
in Lakewood on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 2 mph49% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Forest Acres, SC
71 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
22 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
2h 57m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 112.5
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed driving profile, with 60% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 79.4 miles on I 26, providing a consistent pace. As you get closer to your destination, the route transitions to local roads like Garners Ferry Road and North Church Street, which will likely involve more varied speeds and traffic. This shift from open highway to more built-up areas is a key characteristic of the drive.
60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.4 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near I 26.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 141.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft103 ft
Total Climb
156 ft
Total Descent
784 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
Elevation Range
702 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 141.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.4 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 126; US 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park and 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 Lakewood, SC before heading back.
