Origin
Charleston, SC
Late night in Charleston on Friday
Local time
1:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, SC to South Santee, SC
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Santee, SC
Hilary Halliwell
Trip Overview
The drive from Charleston, SC to South Santee, SC covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.1 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.93 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 1m highway drive covering 44.3 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 33.1 miles on US 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 33.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Charleston, SC to South Santee, SC is easy. At 1h 1m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (East Bay Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 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.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Calhoun Street
Turn right onto Calhoun Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
East Bay Street
Turn left onto East Bay Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 17 North
Navigation decision point
Toward US 17 North
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Merge onto US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 33.1 mi | 41m |
| Johnnie Dodds Boulevard | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| East Bay Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Meeting Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Calhoun Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 33.1 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and South Santee, 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 right onto Calhoun Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Calhoun Street
4
Turn left onto East Bay Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bay Street
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 17 North
6
Merge onto US 17
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 17
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Johnnie Dodds Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 17
33 mi
·
41 min
·
US 17
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 17
192 ft
·
11 sec
·
US 17
10
Arrive at destination
US 17
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from Charleston, SC · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Santee, SC
The final approach into South Santee, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.93 one way
$13.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.57 | $15.15 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.20 | $16.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
South Santee, SC
Late night in South Santee on Friday
Local time
1:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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 1m 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 South Santee, SC covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 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 $6.93 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.
The drive from Charleston, SC to South Santee, SC is easy. At 1h 1m with 75% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (East Bay Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Charleston, SC to South Santee, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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