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Trip from Charleston, SC to Camden, SC

Drive Time

2h 37m

Distance

134.2 mi

216 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 27m ★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Camden, SC, SC

Camden, SC

Kevin Yang

Trip Overview

The drive from Charleston, SC to Camden, SC covers 134.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, I 95, US 521 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.4 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.48 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

67.1 miles from Charleston, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 37m highway drive covering 134.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.4 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 23 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 51.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

252 ft 11 ft

Total Climb

243 ft

Total Descent

64 ft

Highest Point

252 ft

~115.1 mi in

Elevation Range

241 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 134.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

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 13 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
53.8 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence
6
90.3 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Charleston, SC to Camden, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Sumter along the way.

Sumter

90 mi in | ~1h 43m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 51.4 mi 58m
I 95 35.4 mi 37m
US 521 12.4 mi 14m
Sumter Highway 8.4 mi 9m
Camden Highway 8.2 mi 9m
Thomas Sumter Highway 7.6 mi 8m
South Guignard Drive 3.6 mi 4m
Broad Street 1.9 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 51.4 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Camden, 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

51 mi · 58 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence
10

Merge onto I 95

35 mi · 37 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
12

Keep slight left at fork

289 ft · 7 sec
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
13

Turn left onto US 521

12 mi · 14 min · US 521
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left onto US 521

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Guignard Parkway
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on US 521

3.6 mi · 4 min · South Guignard Drive
16

Continue on US 521

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bultman Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn left onto US 521; US 76 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
Use the left lane.
18

Turn slight right onto US 521

1.9 mi · 2 min · Camden Highway
19

Continue on US 521

7.6 mi · 8 min · Thomas Sumter Highway
20

Continue on US 521

6.2 mi · 7 min · Camden Highway
21

Continue on US 521

8.4 mi · 9 min · Sumter Highway
22

Continue on US 521

1.1 mi · 2 min · Broad Street
23

Arrive at destination

US 521; US 601

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.1 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.4 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 67.1 miles or 1h 18m 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 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camden, 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 134.2 miles and 2h 37m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 51.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 67.1 mi from Charleston, SC · 1h 18m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

67 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 67.1 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Camden, SC

The final approach into Camden, 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 Camden, SC.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

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...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

National Park

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...

23 mi from route ~57 min detour Free near mile 115.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.48 one way

$42.95 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 47 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $23.40 $46.80
premium $4.78 $25.24 $50.49
diesel $5.64 $29.81 $59.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.3 0 $14.09 $6.44
Efficient EV 33.6 0 $11.74 $5.37
EV Truck/SUV 53.7 0 $18.79 $8.59

Gas CO2

47 kg

EV CO2

16 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 4 hours ago

Origin

Charleston, SC

Afternoon in Charleston on Sunday

Local time

4:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Sunny

E 2 to 8 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Camden, SC

Afternoon in Camden on Sunday

Local time

4:05 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

15 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 37m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Charleston, SC to Camden, SC covers 134.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 95, US 521. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.1 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 $21.48 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 134.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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.
On the drive from Charleston, SC to Camden, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Sumter along the way.

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