Trip from Charleston, SC to Barnwell, SC

Drive Time

2h 28m

Distance

115.9 mi

186 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 19m ★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m

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

Downtown Barnwell, SC, SC

Barnwell, SC

Junior Bastos

Trip Overview

The drive from Charleston, SC to Barnwell, SC covers 115.9 miles and takes about 2h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, Bamberg Road, Barnwell Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.1 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.55 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

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

57.9 miles from Charleston, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Charleston, SC to Barnwell, SC covers 115.9 miles and takes about 2h 28m, 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 24 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 66.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

298 ft 11 ft

Total Climb

461 ft

Total Descent

254 ft

Highest Point

298 ft

~82.8 mi in

Elevation Range

287 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 S-10-107 / Meeting Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 115.9 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 (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | S-10-107 / Meeting Street

Turn right onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
1.6 mi into trip | ~3m in | Coming Street

Turn right onto Coming Street

Navigation decision point

6
2.4 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 26

Keep slight left at fork onto I 26

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
68.6 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Take the exit toward US 301 South: Orangeburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 154-A Toward US 301 South: Orangeburg
6
95 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in | US 78 / Heritage Highway

Turn right onto US 78 / Heritage Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 66.1 mi 1h 14m
Bamberg Road 12.3 mi 15m
Barnwell Road 11.8 mi 20m
Heritage Highway 6.6 mi 9m
Five Chop Road 6.6 mi 8m
Main Highway 3 mi 3m
John C Calhoun Drive 2.5 mi 3m
Old Edisto Drive 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 66.1 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Barnwell, SC.

1

Start on Broad Street

40 ft · 5 sec · Broad Street
2

Turn right onto S-10-107

0.7 mi · 1 min · Meeting Street
Use the straight lane.
3

Turn left onto Calhoun Street

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Calhoun Street
4

Turn right onto S-10-104

0.6 mi · 1 min · King Street
5

Turn left onto Spring Street

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Spring Street
6

Turn right onto Coming Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Coming Street
7

Turn right onto US 17

0.6 mi · 1 min · Septima Clark Expressway
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 26

66 mi · 1 hr 14 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 154-A Toward US 301 South: Orangeburg
10

Merge onto US 301

6.6 mi · 8 min · Five Chop Road
11

Turn slight left onto John C Calhoun Drive

2.5 mi · 3 min · John C Calhoun Drive
12

Continue on US 301; US 601; SC 4

1.7 mi · 2 min · Old Edisto Drive
13

Continue on US 301; US 601

12 mi · 15 min · Bamberg Road
14

Continue on US 301; US 601

3.0 mi · 3 min · Main Highway
15

Turn right onto US 78

6.6 mi · 9 min · Heritage Highway
Use the straight lane.
16

Turn left onto US 321; SC 70

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Carolina Highway
17

Turn right onto SC 70

0.4 mi · 43 sec · Hagood Street
18

Continue on SC 70

12 mi · 20 min · Barnwell Road
19

Continue on SC 70

1.1 mi · 1 min · Main Street
20

Turn right onto SC 70

0.6 mi · 1 min · Allen Street
21

Turn left onto SC 3

246 ft · 10 sec · Marlboro Avenue
22

Turn left

69 ft · 7 sec
23

Turn right

220 ft · 16 sec
24

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 57.9 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.1 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barnwell, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Charleston, 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 Charleston, SC

This is one driving day of about 115.9 miles and 2h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 66.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.9 mi from Charleston, SC · 1h 7m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

58 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

Charlotte, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charlotte, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.9 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.1 miles.

Arriving in Barnwell, SC

The final approach into Barnwell, 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 Barnwell, SC.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.55 one way

$37.10 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $20.21 $40.42
premium $4.78 $21.80 $43.60
diesel $5.64 $25.75 $51.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.8 0 $12.17 $5.56
Efficient EV 29 0 $10.14 $4.64
EV Truck/SUV 46.4 0 $16.23 $7.42

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Charleston, SC

Evening in Charleston on Sunday

Local time

8:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Barnwell, SC

Evening in Barnwell on Sunday

Local time

8:51 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

5 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 28m 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 Charleston, SC to Barnwell, SC covers 115.9 miles and takes about 2h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, Bamberg Road, Barnwell Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.9 miles from Charleston, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.55 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 115.9 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 (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles (Coming Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Charleston, SC to Barnwell, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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