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Create accountDrive Time
1h 38m
Distance
70.9 mi
114 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beaufort, SC
Junior Bastos
The drive from Charleston, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 70.9 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Trask Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.8 miles on Savannah Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.35 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
35.4 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
The drive from Charleston, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 70.9 miles and takes about 1h 38m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
64 ft
Total Descent
68 ft
Highest Point
40 ft
~20.3 mi in
Elevation Range
35 ft
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 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.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.8 miles (Calhoun Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (SC 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Calhoun Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto SC 61 toward SC 61: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Wesley Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah Highway | 28.8 mi | 41m |
| Ace Basin Parkway | 17.1 mi | 22m |
| Trask Parkway | 12 mi | 14m |
| Charleston Highway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Boundary Street | 3 mi | 4m |
| SC 61 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Calhoun Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Meeting Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Beaufort, SC.
Start on Broad Street
Turn right onto S-10-107
Turn left onto Calhoun Street
Turn straight onto James Island Expressway
Take the exit onto SC 61
Turn left onto Wesley Drive
Turn right onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Continue on Trask Parkway
Continue on US 21
Continue on US 21 Business
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 70.9 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.4 miles or 51m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, SC than in the middle of the route.
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 70.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.4 mi from Charleston, SC · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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.
A short stop after about 70.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 35.4 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Beaufort, 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 Beaufort, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$11.35 one way
$22.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $12.36 | $24.73 |
| premium | $4.78 | $13.34 | $26.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.75 | $31.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| Efficient EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.93 | $4.54 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Beaufort on Sunday
Local time
4:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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