Spanning 191.2 miles across South Carolina, this journey from Travelers Rest to Florence typically takes about 3 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads like South Main Street, Poinsett Highway, and State Park Road, it functions best as a single-day trip rather than a multi-day excursion. You should budget approximately $31 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this path offers a straightforward connection between the two cities. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a visit, the lack of interstate travel makes this a focused, turn-heavy experience. It is a manageable distance to tackle in one go, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
94.4 miles from Travelers Rest, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.3 mi
1h 29m
I 26
55.2 mi
1h
Golden Strip Freeway
31.6 mi
34m
I 385
8.3 mi
9m
Poinsett Highway
4.7 mi
7m
North Pleasantburg Drive
4.5 mi
8m
West Evans Street
2.4 mi
4m
South Main Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Travelers Rest, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on Center Street
83 ft·9 sec·Center Street
2
Turn left onto US 276
1.3 mi·2 min·South Main Street
3
Keep slight left at fork onto US 276
4.7 mi·7 min·Poinsett Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto SC 253
0.2 mi·24 sec·State Park Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on SC 291
3.0 mi·5 min·North Pleasantburg Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on SC 291
1.5 mi·2 min·North Pleasantburg Drive
Use the right lane.
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 385 South: ColumbiaUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 385
8.3 mi·9 min·I 385
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
32 mi·34 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 26
55 mi·1 hr·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
14
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·Warley Street
15
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West Cheves Street
16
Turn right
133 ft·11 sec
17
Turn right
50 ft·3 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 3-hour and 3-minute drive is best completed in one day, try to depart early to avoid the heaviest local traffic on these surface roads. Planning for one scheduled stop is a smart way to break up the journey and keep your energy levels consistent. Keep your $31 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before you leave Travelers Rest to avoid searching for stations along the more technical sections of the route. Because you are navigating via South Main Street, Poinsett Highway, and State Park Road, relying on a reliable GPS is essential to manage the frequent turns. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the lack of highway congestion allows you to adjust your departure time based on your personal schedule.
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 94.4 miles from Travelers Rest, SC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.4 miles or 1h 51m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Travelers Rest, 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 Travelers Rest, SC
This is one driving day of about 188.9 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Travelers Rest, 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 20 for about 79.3 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 1.3 and 106.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.3 mi into trip|~3m in|US 276 / Poinsett Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 276 / Poinsett Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6 mi into trip|~10m in|SC 253 / State Park Road
Turn left onto SC 253 / State Park Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
10.7 mi into trip|~19m in
Turn left toward I 385 South: Columbia
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 385 South: Columbia
6
19.3 mi into trip|~29m in|I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
106.1 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.54 one way
$59.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$32.30
$64.60
premium
$4.70
$34.96
$69.92
diesel
$5.61
$41.71
$83.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.7
0
$19.83
$9.07
Efficient EV
47.2
0
$16.53
$7.56
EV Truck/SUV
75.6
0
$26.45
$12.09
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Travelers Rest, SC
Late night
in Travelers Rest on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Florence, SC
Late night
in Florence on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Rock Hill, SC
94 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 41m 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.
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 117.2
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard interstate cruise, as this route is comprised entirely of local roads with 0% highway share. The drive is inherently turn-heavy, requiring you to stay alert as you navigate through various local corridors. Since there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch, the constant changes in road direction keep the journey engaging and active. You will spend the entire 191.2 miles navigating surface streets, which means your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and intersections. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where your focus remains on the road ahead rather than high-speed cruising.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 276 / Poinsett Highway.
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 15 significant decision points across 188.9 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 1.3 miles (US 276 / Poinsett Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (SC 253 / State Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 188.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on I 20. 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 Florence, 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 1.3 miles (US 276 / Poinsett Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles (SC 253 / State Park Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Florence, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
