The drive from Charleston, SC to Burton, SC covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 33m 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 $10.59 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.
Midpoint
33.9 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 67.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Charleston, SC to Burton, SC covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 33m, 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 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Savannah Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 28.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.7 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|Calhoun Street
Turn left onto Calhoun Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|SC 61
Take the exit onto SC 61 toward SC 61: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1
Toward SC 61: Summerville
6
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in|Wesley Drive
Turn left onto Wesley Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|US 17 / Savannah Highway
Turn right onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
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
SC 61
1.2 mi
2m
Calhoun Street
1 mi
1m
Meeting Street
0.7 mi
1m
James Island Expressway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 28.8 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Burton, 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
1.0 mi·1 min·Calhoun Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn straight onto James Island Expressway
0.5 mi·37 sec·James Island Expressway
Toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
5
Take the exit onto SC 61
1.2 mi·2 min·SC 61
Exit 1Toward SC 61: SummervilleUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto Wesley Drive
0.1 mi·13 sec·Wesley Drive
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto US 17
29 mi·41 min·Savannah Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
9
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
11
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft·2 sec·Trask Parkway
12
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
13
Turn right onto US 21
0.4 mi·30 sec·Parris Island Gateway
14
Arrive at destination
US 21
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 33.9 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.8 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 67.7 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 28.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Charleston, SC
· 49m 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...
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
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 67.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.59 one way
$21.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$11.58
$23.15
premium
$4.70
$12.53
$25.06
diesel
$5.61
$14.95
$29.89
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: 23.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.3
0
$7.11
$3.25
Efficient EV
16.9
0
$5.92
$2.71
EV Truck/SUV
27.1
0
$9.48
$4.33
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Charleston, SC
Morning
in Charleston on Friday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burton, SC
Morning
in Burton on Friday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°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
28 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 33m 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 Burton, SC covers 67.7 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Trask Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 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 $10.59 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 67.7 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.
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.
The route from Charleston, SC to Burton, 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 Reconstruction Era National Historical 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.
