This 92.2-mile drive from Bluffton, SC, to North Charleston, SC, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking around 2 hours and 2 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes US 17 and Okatie Highway, offering a straightforward journey. You'll spend about 68% of your time on highways, making for a largely efficient travel experience. This trip is ideal for a single day, allowing ample time 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.
Midpoint
46.1 miles from Bluffton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 92.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The character of this drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 68% of the journey on faster roads. You'll encounter stretches like the 48-mile segment on US 17, which will likely feel like a more continuous travel experience. While the route incorporates highways, it also includes time on roads like Okatie Highway and Trask Parkway, suggesting a mix of driving environments. Expect a profile that leans towards efficiency rather than winding scenic byways, with the majority of your travel time spent on well-established roadways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 48 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Okatie Highway. You will hit about 10 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 Effort5/10
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 92.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 10 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
4
26.2 mi into trip|~32m in|US 21 / Trask Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto US 21 / Trask Parkway
Navigation decision point
4
92.1 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|US 52; US 78 / Rivers Avenue
Turn right onto US 52; US 78 / Rivers Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
48 mi
1h 4m
Okatie Highway
12.2 mi
13m
Trask Parkway
11.6 mi
14m
Fording Island Road
5.6 mi
7m
Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
3.9 mi
6m
Robert Smalls Parkway
3.5 mi
3m
Cosgrove Avenue
2 mi
3m
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
1.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 48 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and North Charleston, 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
12 mi·13 min·Okatie Highway
9
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi·1 min·Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
10
Continue on SC 170
3.5 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
11
Turn slight left onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Merge onto US 17
48 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 17
15
Turn left onto SC 7
3.9 mi·6 min·Sam Rittenberg Boulevard
16
Continue on SC 7
2.0 mi·3 min·Cosgrove Avenue
17
Turn right onto US 52; US 78
0.1 mi·11 sec·Rivers Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 78
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. Consider departing earlier in the morning to avoid potential midday traffic, especially as you approach North Charleston. With no specific stops recommended and a relatively short distance, you have the flexibility to pause for breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $14 cost suggests a straightforward fuel stop might be beneficial midway, perhaps before the longest stretch on US 17. This straightforward drive allows you to focus on reaching your destination efficiently.
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 46.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 58m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Charleston, 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 92.2 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Bluffton, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 48 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.1 mi from Bluffton, SC
· 58m into the drive
The midpoint is around 46.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Charleston, SC
The final approach into North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, SC.
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
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 25.4
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.42 one way
$28.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.76
$31.53
premium
$4.70
$17.06
$34.13
diesel
$5.61
$20.36
$40.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.43
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.07
$3.69
EV Truck/SUV
36.9
0
$12.91
$5.90
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bluffton, SC
Morning
in Bluffton on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
S 6 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
North Charleston, SC
Morning
in North Charleston on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
8 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
2h 2m 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 North Charleston, SC covers 92.2 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Okatie Highway, Trask Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.1 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 $14.42 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 North Charleston, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
