The drive from Burnettown, SC to Charleston, SC covers 142 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, North Road, Salley Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.9 miles on I 26.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.21 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
71 miles from Burnettown, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 142 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Burnettown, SC to Charleston, SC covers 142 miles and takes about 3h 10m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 65.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 40 miles in near SC 394.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Burnettown, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 3h 10m with 52% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 40 miles (SC 394): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.6 miles (US 301 / Five Chop Road): Navigation decision point; at 74.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
40 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|SC 394
Enter roundabout onto SC 394
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|US 301 / Five Chop Road
Turn left onto US 301 / Five Chop Road
Navigation decision point
5
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
140 mi into trip|~3h 6m 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
140.4 mi into trip|~3h 7m 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
65.9 mi
1h 13m
North Road
16.3 mi
24m
Salley Road
14.8 mi
24m
Wagener Road
12.8 mi
19m
SC 394
7.1 mi
9m
Five Chop Road
6.1 mi
7m
Augusta Road
5.6 mi
10m
Richland Avenue West
3.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 65.9 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burnettown, SC and Charleston, SC.
1
Start on SC 421
5.6 mi·10 min·Augusta Road
2
Turn straight onto US 1; US 78
3.3 mi·5 min·Richland Avenue West
3
Continue on US 1; US 78
2.4 mi·3 min·Richland Avenue East
4
Continue on SC 4
13 mi·19 min·Wagener Road
5
Turn straight onto SC 4
0.6 mi·1 min·Salley Road
6
Continue on SC 394
9.1 mi·15 min·Salley Road
7
Continue on SC 394
1.0 mi·1 min·Walnut Street West
8
Continue on SC 394
5.1 mi·7 min·Salley Road
9
Enter roundabout onto SC 394
127 ft·1 sec·SC 394
10
Continue on SC 394
7.0 mi·9 min·SC 394
11
Turn right onto US 178
16 mi·24 min·North Road
12
Continue on US 178
3.1 mi·4 min·Chestnut Street
13
Continue on US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck
1.1 mi·1 min·Whittaker Parkway
14
Turn left onto US 301
6.1 mi·7 min·Five Chop Road
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
16
Merge onto I 26
66 mi·1 hr 13 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 221BToward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
18
Turn right onto US 52
1.6 mi·3 min·Meeting Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Broad Street
40 ft·1 sec·Broad Street
20
Arrive at destination
Broad Street
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 71 miles from Burnettown, SC, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 31 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71 miles or 1h 48m 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 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 Burnettown, 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 Burnettown, SC
This is one driving day of about 142 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Burnettown, 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 26 for about 65.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71 mi from Burnettown, SC
· 1h 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 53.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.21 one way
$44.41 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.28
$48.56
premium
$4.70
$26.28
$52.56
diesel
$5.61
$31.35
$62.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.6
0
$14.91
$6.82
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
EV Truck/SUV
56.8
0
$19.88
$9.09
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Burnettown, SC
Evening
in Burnettown on Friday
Local time
7:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Charleston, SC
Evening
in Charleston on Friday
Local time
7:44 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
7 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 10m 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 Burnettown, SC to Charleston, SC covers 142 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, North Road, Salley Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71 miles from Burnettown, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.21 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.
The drive from Burnettown, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 3h 10m with 52% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 40 miles (SC 394): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 67.6 miles (US 301 / Five Chop Road): Navigation decision point; at 74.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Burnettown, SC to Charleston, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National Park.
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.
