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Trip from Florence, SC to Beaufort, SC

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

3h

Distance

155.4 mi

250 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 49m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 53m

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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county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States

Florence, SC

Wikimedia Commons

city in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States

Beaufort, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Florence, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 155.4 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, Trask Parkway, US 17 Alt for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 122.2 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.30 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

77.7 miles from Florence, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 3h highway drive covering 155.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Trask Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 122.2 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 122.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Trask Parkway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 155.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn left

Navigation decision point

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Cheves Street

At end of road, turn left onto East Cheves Street

Navigation decision point

5
5.5 mi into trip | ~10m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
127.7 mi into trip | ~2h 21m in

Take the exit toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee

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

Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
6
127.9 mi into trip | ~2h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward SC 68 East: Yemassee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee

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 Florence, SC to Beaufort, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Yemassee along the way.

Yemassee

127.7 mi in | ~2h 21m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 95 122.2 mi 2h 10m
Trask Parkway 18.1 mi 22m
US 17 Alt 3.9 mi 5m
Boundary Street 3 mi 4m
West Evans Street 2.4 mi 4m
West David H McLeod Boulevard 1.5 mi 2m
Yemassee Highway 1.4 mi 2m
East Cheves Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 95 — 122.2 mi, about 2h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Beaufort, SC.

1

Start on this road

50 ft · 8 sec · this road
2

Turn left

133 ft · 15 sec
3

At end of road, turn left onto East Cheves Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Cheves Street
4

Turn right onto Warley Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Warley Street
5

Turn left onto S-21-31

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Evans Street
6

Turn right onto I 20 Bus

1.5 mi · 2 min · West David H McLeod Boulevard
7

Continue on I 20 Bus

0.5 mi · 53 sec · J Strom Thurmond Freeway
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
9

Merge onto I 95

122 mi · 2 hr 10 min · I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward SC 68: Hampton, Yemassee
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward SC 68 East: Yemassee
12

Turn straight onto SC 68

1.4 mi · 2 min · Yemassee Highway
13

Turn slight right onto SC 68

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Connelly Street
14

Turn right onto US 17 Alt; US 21

3.9 mi · 5 min · US 17 Alt; US 21
15

Merge onto US 17; US 21

6.2 mi · 7 min · Trask Parkway
16

Take the exit onto US 21

0.3 mi · 44 sec · US 21
17

Merge onto US 21

12 mi · 14 min · Trask Parkway
18

Continue on US 21

3.0 mi · 4 min · Boundary Street
19

Continue on US 21 Business

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Carteret Street
20

Turn left onto Port Republic Street

39 ft · 1 sec · Port Republic Street
21

Arrive at destination

Port Republic 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 77.7 miles from Florence, SC, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.2 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 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 77.7 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Florence, 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 Florence, SC

This is one driving day of about 155.4 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Florence, 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 95 for about 122.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 77.7 mi from Florence, SC · 1h 28m into the drive

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

78 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 77.7 miles from Florence, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 122.2 miles.

Arriving in Beaufort, SC

The final approach into Beaufort, 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 Beaufort, SC.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 155.4
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...

26 mi from route ~65 min detour Free near mile 64.3
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.30 one way

$48.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $26.57 $53.14
premium $4.70 $28.76 $57.52
diesel $5.61 $34.31 $68.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.6 0 $16.32 $7.46
Efficient EV 38.9 0 $13.60 $6.22
EV Truck/SUV 62.2 0 $21.76 $9.95

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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 5 days ago

Origin

Florence, SC

Evening in Florence on Tuesday

Local time

6:33 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Beaufort, SC

Evening in Beaufort on Tuesday

Local time

6:33 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

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

3h 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 Florence, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 155.4 miles and takes about 3h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Trask Parkway, US 17 Alt. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 77.7 miles from Florence, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.30 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 155.4 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Florence, SC to Beaufort, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Yemassee along the way.

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