Trip from Clearwater, SC to Spartanburg, SC

Data updated 2 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

122.5 mi

197 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min

4 AM

2h 35m ★

6 AM

2h 45m

8 AM

3h 7m

10 AM

2h 53m

12 PM

2h 51m

3 PM

2h 54m

5 PM

3h 6m

8 PM

2h 39m

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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Clearwater, SC

Jared Lung

Spartanburg, SC

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Trip Overview

The drive from Clearwater, SC to Spartanburg, SC covers 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 25, I 26, US 221 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.2 miles on US 25. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.16 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

61.2 miles from Clearwater, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 2h 45m highway drive covering 122.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 25 and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.2 miles on US 25.

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

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 25 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 25 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 122.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5 miles (US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 60.7 miles (US 221; SC 72): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

4.1 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the exit toward US 25, SC 121: North Augusta, Edgefield

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

Toward US 25, SC 121: North Augusta, Edgefield

5 mi into trip | ~8m in | US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road

Turn right onto US 25; SC 121 / Edgefield Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

60.7 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | US 221; SC 72

At end of road, turn right onto US 221; SC 72

Navigation decision point

90.4 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | I 26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Spartanburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward Spartanburg

113.9 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in

Take the exit toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28 Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore

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 Clearwater, SC to Spartanburg, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Moore along the way.

Moore

113.9 mi in | ~2h 30m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 25	32.2 mi	44m
I 26	24.9 mi	26m
US 221	23.3 mi	30m
Edgefield Road	14.1 mi	21m
South Church Street	6 mi	10m
Augusta Road	4.2 mi	4m
Bauskett Street	3.9 mi	4m
Springdale Drive	3.4 mi	4m

Longest stretch: US 25 — 32.2 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on SC 421

37 ft · 2 sec · Augusta Road

Turn right onto SC 126

0.6 mi · 1 min · Belvedere Road

Continue on SC 126

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belvedere-Clearwater Road

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Merge onto I 520

0.9 mi · 1 min · Palmetto Parkway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 58 sec

Toward US 25, SC 121: North Augusta, Edgefield

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 42 sec · this road

Turn right onto US 25; SC 121

14 mi · 21 min · Edgefield Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto US 25

4.2 mi · 4 min · Augusta Road

Turn straight onto US 25 Truck

3.9 mi · 4 min · Bauskett Street

At end of road, turn left onto US 25

28 mi · 39 min · US 25

Turn right onto US 25; US 178; US 221

3.9 mi · 5 min · US 25; US 178; US 221

Continue on S-24-236

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Emerald Road

Turn left onto S-24-99

0.7 mi · 1 min · Kateway

At end of road, turn right onto US 221; SC 72

23 mi · 30 min · US 221; SC 72

Turn right onto Springdale Drive

3.4 mi · 4 min · Springdale Drive

Turn right onto SC 72

1.2 mi · 1 min · Highway 72 East

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto I 26

1.4 mi · 1 min · I 26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26

24 mi · 25 min · I 26

Toward Spartanburg Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Exit 28 Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto US 221

2.3 mi · 3 min · Highway 221

Continue on US 221

6.0 mi · 10 min · South Church Street

Arrive at destination

US 221; SC 56

Trip Plan

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 61.2 miles from Clearwater, SC, or about 1h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.2 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 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 61.2 miles or 1h 26m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spartanburg, 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 122.5 miles and 2h 45m.

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 US 25 for about 32.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 61.2 mi from Clearwater, SC · 1h 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mauldin, SC

61 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

Mauldin, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mauldin, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 61.2 miles from Clearwater, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Spartanburg, SC

The final approach into Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg, 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.

Cowpens National Battlefield

National Battlefield

A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour Free near mile 122.5

Caution: Hazardous Conditions on Trails

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.16 one way

$38.31 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$20.95	$41.89
premium	$4.70	$22.67	$45.34
diesel	$5.61	$27.05	$54.09

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: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	36.8	$12.86	$5.88
Efficient EV	30.6	$10.72	$4.90
EV Truck/SUV	49	$17.15	$7.84

Gas CO2

43 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 data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Clearwater, SC

Evening in Clearwater on Tuesday

Local time

8:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Sunny

SW 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Spartanburg, SC

Evening in Spartanburg on Tuesday

Local time

8:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

86°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

3 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

2h 45m 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 Spartanburg, SC covers 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 25, I 26, US 221. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 61.2 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 $19.16 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

On the drive from Clearwater, SC to Spartanburg, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Moore along the way.

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Trip from Clearwater, SC to Spartanburg, SC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Spartanburg, SC

National Parks Near This Route

Cowpens National Battlefield

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Clearwater, SC

Spartanburg, SC

Same local time

3 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 45m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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