Spartanburg, SC to North Hartsville, SC is 139 miles and takes about 3 hours 1 minute via Jonesville Lockhart Highway and Lancaster Highway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a route with many turns, characteristic of local drives rather than major highways. With a 22% highway share, it offers a more grounded travel experience. This is a straightforward, same-day excursion perfect for a relaxed pace.
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
69.5 miles from Spartanburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jonesville Lockhart Highway
28.5 mi
33m
Lancaster Highway
23.6 mi
29m
Pageland Highway
19.5 mi
22m
State Hwy 151 Bypass
18.2 mi
20m
State Highway 151
10 mi
12m
South Pine Street
7 mi
10m
Lancaster Bypass
5.3 mi
6m
Furman L Fendley Highway
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Jonesville Lockhart Highway
— 28.5 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spartanburg, SC and North Hartsville, SC.
1
Start on US 221; SC 56
0.2 mi·49 sec·North Church Street
2
Turn left onto SC 56
0.4 mi·1 min·East Henry Street
3
Turn right onto SC 56
1.3 mi·2 min·Union Street
4
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
0.1 mi·20 sec·Forest Avenue
5
Turn right onto US 176; SC 9
7.0 mi·10 min·South Pine Street
6
Continue on US 176
2.4 mi·3 min·Highway 176 Bypass
7
Continue on US 176
5.3 mi·7 min·Furman L Fendley Highway
8
Turn left onto S-44-12
238 ft·4 sec·West Springs Highway
9
Continue on S-44-12
1.1 mi·1 min·Forest Street
10
At end of road, turn right onto SC 9
0.6 mi·37 sec·South Main Street
11
Continue on SC 9; SC 18
0.6 mi·41 sec·Jonesville Highway
12
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9; SC 18
141 ft·1 sec·Jonesville Highway
13
Turn straight onto SC 9
29 mi·33 min·Jonesville Lockhart Highway
14
Turn right onto US 321; SC 9
3.8 mi·4 min·J A Cochran Bypass
15
Turn right onto SC 9
20 mi·24 min·Lancaster Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
3.9 mi·4 min·Lancaster Highway
17
Continue on SC 9
5.3 mi·6 min·Lancaster Bypass
18
Take the exit onto SC 9
0.1 mi·18 sec·SC 9
19
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
276 ft·7 sec·SC 9
20
Merge onto SC 9
19 mi·22 min·Pageland Highway
21
Turn right onto Tory Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Tory Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business
451 ft·9 sec·Pearl Street
23
Merge onto SC 151
4.8 mi·5 min·State Highway 151
24
Continue on SC 151 Bypass
18 mi·20 min·State Hwy 151 Bypass
25
Continue on SC 151
5.2 mi·6 min·State Highway 151
26
Continue on SC 151
4.3 mi·6 min·West Bobo Newsome Highway
27
Turn left onto New Market Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·New Market Road
28
Turn right onto Golf Course Road
3.3 mi·8 min·Golf Course Road
29
Turn right onto Lakeview Boulevard
0.2 mi·35 sec·Lakeview Boulevard
30
Turn left onto US 15 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·North 5th Street
31
Arrive at destination
US 15 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach North Hartsville without rushing. While there's only one recommended stop, the 'turn-heavy' nature of this drive means you'll naturally encounter smaller towns where you can pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as you'll be on local roads for a significant portion; the estimated fuel cost is $22. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the Jonesville Lockhart Highway segment, as it's your longest stretch and a good indicator of the drive's local character.
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 69.5 miles from Spartanburg, SC, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.5 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.5 miles or 1h 30m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Hartsville, 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 139 miles and 3h 1m.
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 Jonesville Lockhart Highway for about 28.5 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 102 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 56 / East Henry Street
Turn left onto SC 56 / East Henry Street
Navigation decision point
4
2 mi into trip|~4m in|Forest Avenue
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|US 176; SC 9 / South Pine Street
Turn right onto US 176; SC 9 / South Pine Street
Navigation decision point
5
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|SC 9
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
102 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.74 one way
$43.47 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.77
$47.53
premium
$4.70
$25.73
$51.45
diesel
$5.61
$30.69
$61.38
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: 48.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.16
$5.56
EV Truck/SUV
55.6
0
$19.46
$8.90
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Spartanburg, SC
Morning
in Spartanburg on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Hartsville, SC
Morning
in North Hartsville on Sunday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
87°F
Chester, SC
70 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
11 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
3h 1m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. Only 22% of the route utilizes highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on smaller roads like Jonesville Lockhart Highway, Lancaster Highway, and Pageland Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.5 miles on Jonesville Lockhart Highway. The road's personality shifts as you progress, moving from more direct routes to those that wind through local communities.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.5 mi on Jonesville Lockhart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near SC 56 / East Henry Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 139 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 0.2 miles (SC 56 / East Henry Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Forest Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 176; SC 9 / South Pine Street): Navigation decision point.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 139 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.5 miles on Jonesville Lockhart Highway. 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 North Hartsville, 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 0.2 miles (SC 56 / East Henry Street): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (Forest Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (US 176; SC 9 / South Pine Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at North Hartsville, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
