Skip to main content

Trip from Charleston, SC to Red Bank, SC

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 21m

Distance

120.9 mi

195 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 12m ★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 15m

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

Downtown Red Bank, SC, SC

Red Bank, SC

Arthur Shuraev

Trip Overview

This 120.9-mile drive from Charleston, SC to Red Bank, SC is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey on major roadways, making it an efficient way to travel within the Southeast region. Your estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $19. With no recommended stops, this drive is designed for straightforward transit, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break it up overnight.

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

60.5 miles from Charleston, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-centric experience for most of this 120.9-mile journey. You'll spend a significant 91% of your time on major roads, including I 26 and portions of Augusta Road. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 109 miles on I 26, indicating long periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. While Two Notch Road offers a slight variation, the overall profile is that of a direct, efficient drive rather than a winding, scenic exploration.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 109 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Two Notch Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 11 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.
7
111.5 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in

Take the exit toward US 1 South: Lexington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Exit 111A Toward US 1 South: Lexington
5
116.1 mi into trip | ~2h 13m in | Two Notch Road

Enter roundabout onto Two Notch Road

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 109 mi 2h
Two Notch Road 4 mi 6m
Augusta Road 3.8 mi 5m
South Lake Drive 1.4 mi 2m
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
Longest stretch: I 26 — 109 mi, about 2h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Red Bank, 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

109 mi · 2 hr · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 111A Toward US 1 South: Lexington Use the right lane.
10

Merge onto US 1

3.8 mi · 5 min · Augusta Road
11

Turn left onto Kitti Wake Drive

457 ft · 12 sec · Kitti Wake Drive
12

Turn right onto Two Notch Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Two Notch Road
13

Enter roundabout onto Two Notch Road

129 ft · 3 sec · Two Notch Road
14

Continue on Two Notch Road

3.4 mi · 5 min · Two Notch Road
15

Turn left onto SC 6

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Lake Drive
16

Arrive at destination

SC 6

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour and 21-minute duration, this route is perfect for a flexible day trip. You can depart Charleston at your leisure, knowing you'll arrive in Red Bank with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch of 109 miles on I 26 means you can settle in for a good portion of the drive, but be mindful of potential traffic as you approach the Charleston area, especially if leaving during peak commuting hours. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $19, and plan for one quick fuel stop if needed, though none are officially recommended.

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 60.5 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 27 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 60.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Bank, 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 120.9 miles and 2h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 109 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60.5 mi from Charleston, SC · 1h 9m into the drive

Downtown Brookdale, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brookdale, SC

60 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

Goose Creek, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint George, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.5 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 109 miles.

Arriving in Red Bank, SC

The final approach into Red Bank, 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 Red Bank, 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

$18.91 one way

$37.81 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $20.67 $41.34
premium $4.70 $22.38 $44.75
diesel $5.61 $26.69 $53.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.3 0 $12.69 $5.80
Efficient EV 30.2 0 $10.58 $4.84
EV Truck/SUV 48.4 0 $16.93 $7.74

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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

Evening in Charleston on Wednesday

Local time

7:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Red Bank, SC

Evening in Red Bank on Wednesday

Local time

7:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Brookdale, SC

60 mi in

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

32 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

2h 21m 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 Red Bank, SC covers 120.9 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, Two Notch Road, Augusta Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.5 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 $18.91 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 is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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.
The route from Charleston, SC to Red Bank, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Charleston, SC or browse trips ending in Red Bank, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.

Explore maps for Charleston, SC or Red Bank, SC on MapSof.net.