Origin
Brookdale, SC
Morning in Brookdale on Friday
Local time
11:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brookdale, SC to Charleston, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
76.1 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 44m
10 AM
1h 35m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookdale, SC
Colon Freld
Trip Overview
The drive from Brookdale, SC to Charleston, SC covers 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, Russell Street, Meeting Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.7 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 29m highway drive covering 76.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and Russell Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 71.7 miles on I 26.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 26 is the longest continuous segment at about 71.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Russell Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Shadow Lawn Drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Brookdale, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 29m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Shadow Lawn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Old Cameron Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Shadow Lawn Drive
Turn right onto Shadow Lawn Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Old Cameron Road
At end of road, turn left onto Old Cameron Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
74.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
6
74.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
US 52 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto US 52 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 71.7 mi | 1h 20m |
| Russell Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Meeting Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Shadow Lawn Drive | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Old Cameron Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Dellwood Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 71.7 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookdale, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on Dellwood Drive
424 ft
·
20 sec
·
Dellwood Drive
2
Turn right onto Shadow Lawn Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Shadow Lawn Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Old Cameron Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Old Cameron Road
4
Continue on SC 33
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Russell Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
6
Merge onto I 26
72 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 221B
Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
8
Turn right onto US 52
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft
·
1 sec
·
Broad Street
10
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 38 mi from Brookdale, SC · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 38 miles from Brookdale, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.7 miles.
Arriving in Charleston, SC
The final approach into Charleston, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.08 | $28.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.80 | $33.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.66 | $3.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.65 | $4.87 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Charleston, SC
Morning in Charleston on Friday
Local time
11:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 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
1h 29m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brookdale, SC to Charleston, SC covers 76.1 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, Russell Street, Meeting Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 38 miles from Brookdale, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.90 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.
The drive from Brookdale, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 29m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Shadow Lawn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Old Cameron Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Brookdale, SC to Charleston, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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