Origin
Stateburg, SC
Late night in Stateburg on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stateburg, SC to Charleston, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
118.7 mi
191 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 11m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 40m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 39m
8 PM
2h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stateburg, SC
Ken Jacobsen
Trip Overview
This 118.7-mile drive from Stateburg, SC to Charleston, SC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey utilizing major roads like I-26, I-95, and Manning Road. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, this is an efficient and straightforward excursion through the Southeast region. Given its relatively short duration and highway nature, you won't need an overnight stop, allowing for maximum flexibility in your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Stateburg, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 51.9 mi | 58m |
| I 95 | 36 mi | 38m |
| Manning Road | 12.1 mi | 13m |
| US 76 | 8.6 mi | 12m |
| North Guignard Drive | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Meeting Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| South Guignard Parkway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Broad Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 51.9 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stateburg, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on SC 261
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Kings Highway
2
Turn left onto US 76; US 378
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
US 76; US 378
Use the straight lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 76 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 521
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bultman Drive
5
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Guignard Drive
6
Continue on US 521
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Guignard Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto US 521
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Manning Road
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
9
Merge onto I 95
36 mi
·
38 min
·
I 95
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
11
Merge onto I 26
52 mi
·
58 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
13
Turn right onto US 52
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
15
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 20-minute drive, departing in the morning will help you avoid potential traffic near Charleston. Since this is a relatively short, highway-centric trip, you won't need to plan for extensive stops; however, it's wise to take advantage of rest areas along I-95 or I-26 for quick breaks. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 51.9 miles on I-26, so ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. This route is designed for efficiency, making it a flexible option for your schedule.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 59.4 miles from Stateburg, SC, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.9 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stateburg, 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 Stateburg, SC
This is one driving day of about 118.7 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Stateburg, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 51.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 59.4 miles from Stateburg, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 117.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 76; US 378
Turn left onto US 76; US 378
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
64.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 86A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
64.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
116.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
6
117.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m in
|
US 52 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto US 52 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.56 one way
$37.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $20.30 | $40.59 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.97 | $43.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.21 | $52.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
| Efficient EV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.39 | $4.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.62 | $7.60 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Charleston, SC
Late night in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
3:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
9 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 20m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10
near mile 118.7
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...
17 mi from route
~42 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?
Expect a largely highway-focused experience on this 118.7-mile journey. The majority of your time will be spent on interstates, making for a fast-paced drive. You'll encounter a significant 51.9-mile stretch solely on I-26, offering uninterrupted cruising. While 82% of this route is on highways, the transition between these main arteries like I-95 and Manning Road will be noticeable, but generally smooth. The character remains consistently efficient for most of the drive.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near US 76; US 378.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 118.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.1 miles (US 76; US 378): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 64.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 118.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.9 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Charleston, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (US 76; US 378): Lane positioning matters here; at 64.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 64.9 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. 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 Charleston, SC before heading back.
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.
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