Origin
Bluffton, SC
Afternoon in Bluffton on Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bluffton, SC to Charleston, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 5m
Distance
92.7 mi
149 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 10m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
Bluffton to Charleston is 93 miles and takes about 2 hours via US 17, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The majority of this trip is on highways, making it a straightforward journey. With a duration of just over two hours, it's an ideal one-day trip. You'll likely find this route efficient for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Bluffton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 52.5 mi | 1h 13m |
| Okatie Highway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Trask Parkway | 11.6 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Bluffton Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Parris Island Gateway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 52.5 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and 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
53 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
US 17
15
Take the exit
441 ft
·
12 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
17
Turn straight onto Lockwood Drive
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Lockwood Drive
18
Continue on Broad Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Bluffton in the morning will get you to Charleston with plenty of daylight remaining. You won't need many stops, but if you do, keep an eye out for services along US 17, as it's the longest stretch you'll be on. The estimated fuel cost of $15 is quite manageable for this distance. Consider a brief stop mid-way if needed, but the drive is short enough that you can likely make it straight through.
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 46.4 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 52.5 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 59m 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 40m
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 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 92.7 miles and 2h 5m.
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 52.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.4 miles from Bluffton, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 90.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
5
90.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.50 one way
$28.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.85 | $31.70 |
| premium | $4.70 | $17.16 | $34.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.47 | $40.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.4 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 | 27.8 | 0 | $9.73 | $4.45 |
| Efficient EV | 23.2 | 0 | $8.11 | $3.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.1 | 0 | $12.98 | $5.93 |
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.
Destination
Charleston, SC
Afternoon in Charleston on Saturday
Local time
3:58 PM
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
1 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 5m 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 92.8
View on nps.gov
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 25.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 73% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience stretches like the longest, uninterrupted segment of 52.5 miles on US 17, which allows for steady progress. The route incorporates highways like US 17, Okatie Highway, and Trask Parkway, suggesting a mix of major thoroughfares and potentially some local road sections. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency and covers ground relatively quickly for most of the journey.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 52.5 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Okatie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 46 / Bluffton Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 92.7 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: 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 92.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 52.5 miles on US 17. 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: 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.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical 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 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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