Origin
Charleston, SC
Night in Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
11:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, SC to Mauldin, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
203.2 mi
327 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 35m
★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mauldin, SC
Daniel Sell
Trip Overview
This 203.2-mile drive from Charleston, SC to Mauldin, SC will take you approximately 3 hours and 47 minutes of pure driving time. It's a very straightforward trip, with 99% of it being on major highways like I-26 and I-385, making it an ideal one-day journey. You can expect to spend around $32 on fuel for this route. The drive is primarily highway-focused, offering a consistent pace across the Southeast region of South Carolina. Given its manageable length and highway nature, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day road trip.
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
101.6 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Prepare for a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, as 99% of your journey will be on interstates and major U.S. highways, including I-26, I-385, and US 276. The character of the drive is consistent, with a substantial longest stretch of 168.4 miles on I-26, meaning you can settle in for long periods of uninterrupted travel. This highway-centric profile suggests a smooth, albeit potentially less varied, driving experience for most of the 203.2 miles. The road will likely maintain a high-speed profile for the majority of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 168.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 385. You will hit about 11 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
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 203.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 11 key pointsThese 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.
9
170.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
I 385
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
8
200.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
|
US 276
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276 toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderso...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Charleston, SC to Mauldin, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville along the way.
Greenville
170.8 mi in
|
~3h 10m
|
via I 385
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 168.4 mi | 3h 5m |
| I 385 | 29.6 mi | 32m |
| US 276 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Meeting Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Septima Clark Expressway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| King Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Coming Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 168.4 mi, about 3h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Mauldin, 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
168 mi
·
3 hr 5 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 385
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
US 276
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto West Butler Road
242 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Butler Road
12
Turn right
109 ft
·
10 sec
13
Turn right
132 ft
·
9 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a driving duration of under 4 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your daylight hours and take advantage of fewer traffic delays. You'll encounter only one recommended stop along the way, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps midway through the 168.4-mile stretch on I-26. The estimated fuel cost of $32 is a good budget point, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially on longer highway segments. A practical tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you depart, as the drive is heavily highway-based with limited opportunities for quick roadside services outside of designated rest areas.
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 101.6 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 168.4 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.6 miles or 1h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mauldin, 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 203.2 miles and 3h 47m.
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 168.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 101.6 mi from Charleston, SC · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 101.6 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 168.4 miles.
Arriving in Mauldin, SC
The final approach into Mauldin, 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 Mauldin, SC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.78 one way
$63.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $34.74 | $69.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $37.61 | $75.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.86 | $89.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61 | 0 | $21.34 | $9.75 |
| Efficient EV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.78 | $8.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.3 | 1 | $28.45 | $13.00 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Destination
Mauldin, SC
Night in Mauldin on Tuesday
Local time
11:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
20 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 47m 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 Mauldin, SC covers 203.2 miles and takes about 3h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 385, US 276. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.6 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 $31.78 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 203.2 miles you will encounter 11 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.
On the drive from Charleston, SC to Mauldin, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Greenville along the way.
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