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Trip from Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 15m

Distance

145.4 mi

234 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 3m ★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m

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 Clearwater, SC, SC

Clearwater, SC

Jared Lung

Trip Overview

The drive from Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, North Road, Salley Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.9 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.74 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

72.7 miles from Clearwater, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 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 65.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near US 1; US 78 / Jefferson Davis Highway.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 3h 15m with 51% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (US 1; US 78 / Jefferson Davis Highway): Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles (SC 394): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 77.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 1; US 78 / Jefferson Davis Highway

Turn right onto US 1; US 78 / Jefferson Davis Highway

Navigation decision point

4
43.5 mi into trip | ~1h 8m in | SC 394

Enter roundabout onto SC 394

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
77.6 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
143.5 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Take the exit toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 221B Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
6
143.8 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in | US 52 / Meeting Street

Turn right onto US 52 / Meeting Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 65.9 mi 1h 13m
North Road 16.3 mi 24m
Salley Road 14.8 mi 24m
Wagener Road 12.8 mi 19m
Jefferson Davis Highway 8.2 mi 12m
SC 394 7.1 mi 9m
Five Chop Road 6.1 mi 7m
Richland Avenue West 3.5 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 65.9 mi, about 1h 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clearwater, SC and Charleston, SC.

1

Start on SC 421

37 ft · 2 sec · Augusta Road
2

Turn right onto SC 126

0.6 mi · 1 min · Belvedere Road
3

Turn right onto US 1; US 78

8.2 mi · 12 min · Jefferson Davis Highway
4

Continue on US 1; US 78

3.5 mi · 5 min · Richland Avenue West
5

Continue on US 1; US 78

2.4 mi · 3 min · Richland Avenue East
6

Continue on SC 4

13 mi · 19 min · Wagener Road
7

Turn straight onto SC 4

0.6 mi · 1 min · Salley Road
8

Continue on SC 394

9.1 mi · 15 min · Salley Road
9

Continue on SC 394

1.0 mi · 1 min · Walnut Street West
10

Continue on SC 394

5.1 mi · 7 min · Salley Road
11

Enter roundabout onto SC 394

127 ft · 1 sec · SC 394
12

Continue on SC 394

7.0 mi · 9 min · SC 394
13

Turn right onto US 178

16 mi · 24 min · North Road
14

Continue on US 178

3.1 mi · 4 min · Chestnut Street
15

Continue on US 21; US 178; US 601 Truck

1.1 mi · 1 min · Whittaker Parkway
16

Turn left onto US 301

6.1 mi · 7 min · Five Chop Road
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
18

Merge onto I 26

66 mi · 1 hr 13 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Exit 221B Toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown
20

Turn right onto US 52

1.6 mi · 3 min · Meeting Street
Use the right lane.
21

Turn left onto Broad Street

40 ft · 1 sec · Broad Street
22

Arrive at destination

Broad Street

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 72.7 miles from Clearwater, SC, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.9 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 59m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 72.7 miles or 1h 50m 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, SC

This is one driving day of about 145.4 miles and 3h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clearwater, 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 65.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72.7 mi from Clearwater, SC · 1h 50m into the drive

city in and county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

73 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 72.7 miles from Clearwater, 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 65.9 miles.

Arriving in Charleston, SC

The final approach into Charleston, 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 Charleston, 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 near mile 145.4
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...

19 mi from route ~49 min detour Free near mile 60.2
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.74 one way

$45.47 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $24.86 $49.72
premium $4.70 $26.91 $53.82
diesel $5.61 $32.10 $64.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.6 0 $15.27 $6.98
Efficient EV 36.4 0 $12.72 $5.82
EV Truck/SUV 58.2 0 $20.36 $9.31

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Clearwater, SC

Evening in Clearwater on Tuesday

Local time

8:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Sunny

SW 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Charleston, SC

Evening in Charleston on Tuesday

Local time

8:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

24 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

3h 15m 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 Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC covers 145.4 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, North Road, Salley Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.7 miles from Clearwater, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.74 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.
The drive from Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 3h 15m with 51% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (US 1; US 78 / Jefferson Davis Highway): Navigation decision point; at 43.5 miles (SC 394): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 77.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Clearwater, SC to Charleston, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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