This 79.4-mile drive from Fairfax to Goose Creek, South Carolina, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 8 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of $13, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The route primarily utilizes US 17 Alt and Sniders Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. Given its manageable length and duration, this trip is well-suited for a day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll be traveling entirely within the Southeast region, staying within the borders of South Carolina for this leg of your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.7 miles from Fairfax, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 79.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this 79.4-mile route, with approximately 35% of your journey on highway stretches. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 24.7 miles on US 17 Alt, offering a consistent pace. The road character shifts between the efficiency of highways and the more local feel of roads like Sniders Highway and Augusta Highway. This blend means you'll experience varying traffic patterns and speed limits as you progress from Fairfax towards Goose Creek, keeping the driving experience dynamic.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 Alt is the longest continuous segment at about 24.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
135 ft23 ft
Total Climb
79 ft
Total Descent
183 ft
Highest Point
135 ft
Elevation Range
113 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Street West.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 8m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (6th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 321 / Hampton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.1 miles (SC 363 / Charleston Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Street West
Turn right onto 6th Street West
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 321 / Hampton Avenue
Turn right onto US 321 / Hampton Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
10.1 mi into trip|~14m in|SC 363 / Charleston Highway
Turn left onto SC 363 / Charleston Highway
Navigation decision point
5
75.2 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 78
Turn right onto US 78
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
79.4 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|Old State Road
Continue onto Old State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17 Alt
24.7 mi
35m
Sniders Highway
20.2 mi
35m
Augusta Highway
5.5 mi
7m
Dorchester Road
5.4 mi
8m
Ladson Road
4.7 mi
8m
Charleston Highway
4.3 mi
7m
Walterboro Highway
3.7 mi
6m
US 78
2.9 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 17 Alt
— 24.7 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax, SC and Goose Creek, SC.
1
Start on this road
274 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 6th Street West
286 ft·14 sec·6th Street West
3
Turn right onto US 321
0.1 mi·12 sec·Hampton Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 278
1.1 mi·1 min·Allendale-Hampton Highway
5
Continue on US 278
1.8 mi·2 min·Augusta Highway
6
Continue on US 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Railroad Avenue Southwest
7
Continue on US 278
3.7 mi·5 min·Augusta Highway
8
Continue on US 278
1.9 mi·2 min·Elm Street West
9
Turn left onto SC 363
4.3 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
10
Turn left onto SC 63
3.7 mi·6 min·Walterboro Highway
11
Continue on SC 63
20 mi·35 min·Sniders Highway
12
Turn right onto SC 63
1.2 mi·2 min·Hampton Street
13
Turn left onto SC 64
0.8 mi·1 min·Robertson Boulevard
14
Turn right onto US 17 Alt
25 mi·35 min·US 17 Alt
15
Turn slight right
206 ft·7 sec
16
Continue on SC 642
5.4 mi·8 min·Dorchester Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto Ladson Road
4.7 mi·8 min·Ladson Road
18
Turn right onto US 78
2.9 mi·4 min·US 78
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Goose Creek Road
0.5 mi·43 sec·Goose Creek Road
20
Continue on Goose Creek Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Goose Creek Road
21
Continue on Old State Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·Old State Road
22
Continue on Old State Road
237 ft·14 sec·Old State Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn left onto The Oaks Avenue
38 ft·1 sec·The Oaks Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
The Oaks Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 8-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and potentially avoid heavier traffic. Since there are no designated stops mentioned, plan your own breaks as needed, especially during the 24.7-mile stretch on US 17 Alt. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $13, and it's always wise to have a buffer. This is a flexible one-day trip, so you have the freedom to depart at a time that best suits your schedule.
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 39.7 miles from Fairfax, SC, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.7 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 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 1h 7m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goose Creek, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairfax, 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 Fairfax, SC
This is one driving day of about 79.4 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Fairfax, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 Alt for about 24.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.7 mi from Fairfax, SC
· 1h 7m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$10
near mile 79.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.38 one way
$24.76 round trip
$3.96/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.43
$13.84
$27.69
premium
$4.78
$14.94
$29.87
diesel
$5.62
$17.58
$35.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.8
0
$8.34
$3.81
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.95
$3.18
EV Truck/SUV
31.8
0
$11.12
$5.08
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Fairfax, SC
Evening
in Fairfax on Friday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Goose Creek, SC
Evening
in Goose Creek on Friday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
W 6 mph3% chanceLive 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
45 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 8m 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 Fairfax, SC to Goose Creek, SC covers 79.4 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17 Alt, Sniders Highway, Augusta Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.7 miles from Fairfax, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.38 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 8m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (6th Street West): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 321 / Hampton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 10.1 miles (SC 363 / Charleston Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Fairfax, SC to Goose Creek, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 23 ft to 135 ft elevation with about 79 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.
