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Trip from Bluffton, SC to Florence, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 12m

Distance

166.2 mi

267 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 0m ★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Bluffton, SC, SC

Bluffton, SC

Connor Scott McManus

county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States

Florence, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bluffton, SC to Florence, SC covers 166.2 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, Coosaw Scenic Drive, Lowcountry Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131.5 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.99 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

83.1 miles from Bluffton, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 166.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 166.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 131.5 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 131.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 46 / Bluffton Road.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 166.2 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SC 46 / Bluffton Road

Turn right onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road

Navigation decision point

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | SC 46 / Bluffton Road

Enter roundabout onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
7.5 mi into trip | ~11m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
29.2 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 95; US 17

Merge onto I 95; US 17

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
166.2 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 131.5 mi 2h 20m
Coosaw Scenic Drive 9.4 mi 12m
Lowcountry Drive 7.9 mi 10m
Fording Island Road 5.6 mi 7m
Okatie Highway 3.9 mi 4m
West Evans Street 2.4 mi 4m
Bluffton Road 1.7 mi 2m
I 20 Bus 1.6 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 131.5 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and Florence, SC.

1

Start on Bruin Road

87 ft · 5 sec · Bruin Road
2

Turn right onto SC 46

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bluffton Road
3

Enter roundabout onto SC 46

170 ft · 3 sec · Bluffton Road
4

Continue on SC 46

0.8 mi · 1 min · Bluffton Road
5

Turn left onto US 278

5.6 mi · 7 min · Fording Island Road
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
7

Keep slight right at fork

147 ft · 4 sec
8

Merge onto SC 170

3.9 mi · 4 min · Okatie Highway
9

Take the exit

488 ft · 13 sec
10

Continue on SC 462

7.9 mi · 10 min · Lowcountry Drive
11

Continue on SC 462

9.4 mi · 12 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive
12

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
13

Merge onto I 95; US 17

132 mi · 2 hr 20 min · I 95; US 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
15

Merge onto I 20 Bus

1.6 mi · 2 min · I 20 Bus
16

Turn left onto S-21-31

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Evans Street
17

Turn right onto Warley Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Warley Street
18

Turn left onto West Cheves Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Cheves Street
19

Turn right

133 ft · 11 sec
20

Turn right

50 ft · 3 sec
21

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 83.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.5 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 37 miles or 48m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 83.1 miles or 1h 38m 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 35m

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 Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC

This is one driving day of about 166.2 miles and 3h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Bluffton, 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 95 for about 131.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 83.1 mi from Bluffton, SC · 1h 38m into the drive

Downtown Holly Hill, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Holly Hill, SC

83 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

Ridgeland, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Holly Hill, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.5 miles.

Arriving in Florence, SC

The final approach into Florence, 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 Florence, SC.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...

15 mi from route ~36 min detour Free near mile 17.2
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park

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...

26 mi from route ~65 min detour Free near mile 103.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.99 one way

$51.98 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $28.42 $56.84
premium $4.70 $30.76 $61.52
diesel $5.61 $36.69 $73.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.9 0 $17.45 $7.98
Efficient EV 41.6 0 $14.54 $6.65
EV Truck/SUV 66.5 0 $23.27 $10.64

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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

Bluffton, SC

Afternoon in Bluffton on Saturday

Local time

12:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Florence, SC

Afternoon in Florence on Saturday

Local time

12:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

94°F

Sunny

SW 2 to 8 mph 0% chance Live forecast

77°F

Holly Hill, SC

83 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

37 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

3h 12m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bluffton, SC to Florence, SC covers 166.2 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 95, Coosaw Scenic Drive, Lowcountry Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.1 miles from Bluffton, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.99 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 166.2 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

The route from Bluffton, SC to Florence, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Florence, SC to Bluffton, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

167 mi 3h 12m

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