Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
141.8 mi
228 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Lakewood, SC
Jacob Evans
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Spartanburg, SC and Lakewood, SC.
Start on US 221; SC 56
Continue on US 221
Turn left
Merge onto I 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 126; US 76
Take the exit
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
Turn left onto Gervais Street
Turn right onto US 76; US 378
Continue on US 76; US 378
Continue on US 76; US 378
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business
Turn slight right onto US 521
Continue on US 521
Continue on US 521
Turn right onto US 15
Continue on US 15
Turn left onto Old Manning Road
Turn right onto Spoonville Lane
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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.
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 70.9 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 79.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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.
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Huger Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Gervais Street
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business / Broad Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$22.17 one way
$44.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $24.25 | $48.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $26.24 | $52.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.31 | $62.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
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, 2026-04-13.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Spartanburg on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spartanburg is both a county and city in Upcountry South Carolina.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
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.
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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