Spartanburg, SC to Sullivans Island, SC is 208.9 miles and takes about 4h via I 26 and Mark Clark Expressway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, making it a straightforward point-to-point drive through the Southeast region. With a 94% highway share, expect a largely uninterrupted drive. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
104.5 miles from Spartanburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
182.3 mi
3h 19m
Mark Clark Expressway
11.9 mi
14m
North Church Street
6 mi
10m
Highway 221
2.5 mi
4m
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
2.2 mi
3m
Chuck Dawley Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Rivers Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Remount Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 182.3 mi, about 3h 19m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 75 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,587 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,122
Quietest
2 AM
~210 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.3×
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 Sullivans Island, 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
103 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 211A-BToward Aviation Avenue, Remount RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 211BToward Remount Road, HanahanUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Remount Road
0.4 mi·44 sec·Remount Road
10
Turn right onto US 52; US 78
0.8 mi·1 min·Rivers Avenue
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 526
12 mi·14 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 526 Bus
0.8 mi·1 min·Chuck Dawley Boulevard
14
Turn left onto Myrick Road
0.3 mi·50 sec·Myrick Road
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn right onto Rifle Range Road
0.3 mi·37 sec·Rifle Range Road
16
Turn left onto SC 703
2.2 mi·3 min·Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on SC 703
0.2 mi·18 sec·Station 22 1/2 Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
19
Turn right
36 ft·2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This drive is best tackled in one day, so consider leaving Spartanburg in the morning to arrive in Sullivans Island by the afternoon. With only one suggested stop and a 4-hour duration, you have flexibility in your departure time. The $33 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you go. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 26 onto the Mark Clark Expressway, as this is a significant change in your driving environment as you near the coast. Plan for potential traffic delays as you enter the Charleston metropolitan area.
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 104.5 miles from Spartanburg, SC, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.3 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.5 miles or 1h 59m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sullivans Island, 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 208.9 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 182.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 88 and 206.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
190.9 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Take the exit toward Aviation Avenue, Remount 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 211A-B
Toward Aviation Avenue, Remount Road
6
191.1 mi into trip|~3h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
9
191.4 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211B
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
6
206.5 mi into trip|~3h 57m in|SC 703 / Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Turn left onto SC 703 / Ben Sawyer Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.23 one way
$66.45 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$36.23
$72.46
premium
$4.78
$39.30
$78.61
diesel
$5.35
$44.00
$88.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.7
0
$21.93
$10.03
Efficient EV
52.2
0
$18.28
$8.36
EV Truck/SUV
83.6
1
$29.25
$13.37
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 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
Sullivans Island, SC
Evening
in Sullivans Island on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NE 9 mph77% chanceLive 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
18 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 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.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
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 115.3
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?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 94% of the 208.9-mile route utilizing them. The longest continuous stretch on I 26 covers 182.3 miles. As you approach the coast, you'll transition from interstate cruising to surface streets on North Church Street, marking the end of the highway portion of your drive. Expect a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you get closer to Charleston.
94% 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: 182.3 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Mark Clark Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 88 miles in near I 26.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 208.9 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 88 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft4 ft
Total Climb
75 ft
Total Descent
871 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
Elevation Range
801 ft
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 Sullivans Island, SC, road signs point toward Charleston and Hanahan.
Charleston
88 mi in|~1h 41m|via I 26
Hanahan
191.1 mi in|~3h 35m
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 4h. Total distance: 208.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 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 182.3 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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.
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 Sullivans Island, 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. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 88 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 190.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Sullivans Island, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
