Drive Time
31m
Distance
20 mi
32 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Photo: Kelly
The drive from Anderson, SC to Clemson, SC covers 20 miles and takes about 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 76, Clemson Boulevard, Pearman Dairy Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.5 miles on Highway 76. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.20 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10 miles from Anderson, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
Expect a 31m drive with frequent turns across 20 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
5 ft
Total Descent
72 ft
Highest Point
792 ft
Elevation Range
67 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near SC 28 / Pearman Dairy Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 31m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (SC 28 / Pearman Dairy Road): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (SC 28): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.2 miles (SC 28): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto SC 28 / Pearman Dairy Road
Navigation decision point
Take the exit onto SC 28 toward US 76, SC 28
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 28
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Continue onto US 76; SC 28 / Clemson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto SC 133 / College Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 76 | 5.5 mi | 9m |
| Clemson Boulevard | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Pearman Dairy Road | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Clemson Highway | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| East Whitner Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| College Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Tiger Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| SC 28 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Anderson, SC and Clemson, SC.
Start on East Whitner Street
Turn right onto SC 28
Take the exit onto SC 28
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 28
Continue on US 76; SC 28
Continue on US 76; SC 28
Continue on US 76; SC 28
Continue on US 76; SC 28
Turn left onto US 76; US 123; SC 28
Turn left onto SC 133
Arrive at destination
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 20 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clemson, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Anderson, 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 Anderson, SC
This is one driving day of about 20 miles and 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10 mi from Anderson, SC · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 10 miles from Anderson, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Clemson, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Clemson, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.20 one way
$6.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.49 | $6.97 |
| premium | $4.78 | $3.76 | $7.52 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.44 | $8.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.10 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.75 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.80 | $1.28 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Anderson on Saturday
Local time
5:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Evening in Clemson on Saturday
Local time
5:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Along the Route
64°F
Mauldin, SC
10 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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