Origin
Clemson, SC
Late night in Clemson on Friday
Local time
5:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clemson, SC to Bluffton, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 17m
Distance
273.2 mi
440 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 4m
★
6 AM
5h 17m
8 AM
5h 44m
10 AM
5h 27m
12 PM
5h 24m
3 PM
5h 28m
5 PM
5h 43m
8 PM
5h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clemson, SC
R9 Media Photo Collective
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
The drive from Clemson, SC to Bluffton, SC covers 273.2 miles and takes about 5h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Tiger Boulevard, Calhoun Memorial Highway, Highway 153 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.72 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
136.6 miles from Clemson, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 273.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 17m drive with frequent turns across 273.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Tiger Boulevard is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clemson, SC to Bluffton, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger Boulevard | — | — |
| Calhoun Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Highway 153 | — | — |
| Southern Connector | — | — |
| I 385 South | — | — |
| Golden Strip Freeway | — | — |
| Charleston | — | — |
| I 95 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Tiger Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clemson, SC and Bluffton, SC.
1
Start on College Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
College Avenue
2
Turn right onto Tiger Boulevard
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Tiger Boulevard
3
Continue on Calhoun Memorial Highway
18 mi
·
23 min
·
Calhoun Memorial Highway
4
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
5
Keep slight right
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Highway 153
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 153
7
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Southern Connector
11 mi
·
11 min
·
Southern Connector
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 385 South: Columbia
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 385 South: Columbia
10
Merge slight right
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
11
Merge slight left onto Golden Strip Freeway
30 mi
·
32 min
·
Golden Strip Freeway
12
Merge slight left
56 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on Charleston
60 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Charleston
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 South: Savannah
15
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr
16
Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
SC 462: Coosawhatchie
17
Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
18
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
19
Turn right onto Okatie Highway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
20
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
21
Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Fording Island Road
22
Turn right onto Bluffton Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bluffton Road
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bluffton Road
171 ft
·
4 sec
·
Bluffton Road
24
Exit the roundabout onto Bluffton Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bluffton Road
25
Turn left onto Bruin Road
89 ft
·
2 sec
·
Bruin Road
26
Arrive at your destination
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 136.6 miles from Clemson, SC, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.6 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluffton, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clemson, 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 Clemson, SC
This is one driving day of about 273.2 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Clemson, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.6 mi from Clemson, SC · 2h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 136.6 miles from Clemson, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bluffton, SC
The final approach into Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.72 one way
$85.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $46.71 | $93.43 |
| premium | $4.70 | $50.56 | $101.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.32 | $120.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82 | 1 | $28.69 | $13.11 |
| Efficient EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.90 | $10.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.3 | 1 | $38.25 | $17.48 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bluffton, SC
Late night in Bluffton on Friday
Local time
5:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
8 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
5h 17m 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 Clemson, SC to Bluffton, SC covers 273.2 miles and takes about 5h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tiger Boulevard, Calhoun Memorial Highway, Highway 153. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.6 miles from Clemson, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.72 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 is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Clemson, SC to Bluffton, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clemson, SC to Bluffton, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bluffton, SC
More trips to Bluffton, SC
Explore more options from Clemson, SC or browse trips ending in Bluffton, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.