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Trip from Charleston, SC to Pendleton, SC

Drive Time

4h 36m

Distance

235.4 mi

379 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

14 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 23m ★
6 AM
4h 36m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 28m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Charleston, SC to Pendleton, SC covers 235.4 miles and takes about 4h 36m 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 385, Old Greenville Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 168.4 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.67 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

117.7 miles from Charleston, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 36m highway drive covering 235.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 385. The longest continuous stretch is about 168.4 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 28 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 16 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 235.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 16 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.
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
6
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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderso...

Towns Along This Route

Between Charleston, SC and Pendleton, SC, road signs point toward Greenville, Mauldin and Anderson.

Greenville

170.8 mi in | ~3h 10m | via I 385

Mauldin

200.4 mi in | ~3h 43m | via US 276

Anderson

200.4 mi in | ~3h 43m | via US 276

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 168.4 mi 3h 5m
I 385 29.6 mi 32m
Old Greenville Highway 12.4 mi 17m
Southern Connector 8.8 mi 9m
Piedmont Highway 3 mi 5m
Highway 86 2.2 mi 3m
Moore Road 1.8 mi 3m
Major Road 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 168.4 mi, about 3h 5m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

0.5 mi · 33 sec · US 276
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 185: Atlanta, Anderson
12

Merge onto I 185

8.8 mi · 9 min · Southern Connector
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward SC 20
14

Keep slight left at fork

204 ft · 9 sec
15

Turn left onto SC 20

3.0 mi · 5 min · Piedmont Highway
16

Turn right onto SC 86

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street
17

Continue on SC 86

1.0 mi · 1 min · Anderson Street
18

Continue on SC 86

2.2 mi · 3 min · Highway 86
19

Turn left onto Major Road

1.2 mi · 2 min · Major Road
20

Continue on Moore Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Moore Road
21

Continue on SC 88

6.9 mi · 9 min · Old Greenville Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Enter roundabout onto SC 88

121 ft · 2 sec · Old Greenville Highway
23

Continue on SC 88

2.8 mi · 3 min · Old Greenville Highway
24

Continue on SC 88

1.2 mi · 1 min · Highway 88
25

Continue on SC 88

2.7 mi · 3 min · Old Greenville Highway
26

Continue on SC 88

0.9 mi · 1 min · Greenville Street
27

Continue on SC 88

0.3 mi · 38 sec · East Queen Street
28

Arrive at destination

SC 88

Trip Plan

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 117.7 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 2h 12m 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 117.7 miles or 2h 12m 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 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pendleton, 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 235.4 miles and 4h 36m.

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 117.7 mi from Charleston, SC · 2h 12m into the drive

Downtown Inman Mills, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Inman Mills, SC

118 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.

Belmont, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 117.7 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 168.4 miles.

Arriving in Pendleton, SC

The final approach into Pendleton, 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 Pendleton, 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.

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 89.3
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.67 one way

$75.35 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $41.05 $82.09
premium $4.78 $44.28 $88.56
diesel $5.64 $52.30 $104.60

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

14 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Citadel Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Charleston, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Mellow Mushroom - Tesla Supercharger

North Charleston, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 1082

N. Charleston, SC

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Target T1829 (N Charleston, SC)

North Charleston, SC

Electrify America

4 DCFC

CircleK - North Charleston, SC

North Charleston, SC

CIRCLE_K

4 DCFC

PALMETTO EV PALMETTO2

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

Hudson Nissan

Charleston, SC

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

PALMETTO EV PALMETTO1

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

Non-Networked: 3 ChargePoint Network: 3 Tesla: 2 eVgo Network: 2 Electrify America: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1 ZEFNET: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 70.6 0 $24.72 $11.30
Efficient EV 58.9 0 $20.60 $9.42
EV Truck/SUV 94.2 1 $32.96 $15.07

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 days ago

Origin

Charleston, SC

Afternoon in Charleston on Monday

Local time

3:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pendleton, SC

Afternoon in Pendleton on Monday

Local time

3:52 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°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

2 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

4h 36m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Pendleton, SC covers 235.4 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 385, Old Greenville Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 117.7 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 $37.67 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 235.4 miles you will encounter 16 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.
Between Charleston, SC and Pendleton, SC, road signs point toward Greenville, Mauldin and Anderson.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Pendleton, SC to Charleston, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

234.6 mi 4h 36m

Continue From Pendleton, SC

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