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Create accountDrive Time
3h 12m
Distance
167 mi
269 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, SC
Samual lim
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
The drive from Florence, SC to Bluffton, SC covers 167 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Coosaw Scenic Drive, Lowcountry Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131.9 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.73 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
83.5 miles from Florence, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 167 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 131.9 miles on I 95.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 12m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 0.7 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto East Cheves Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Warley Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto S-21-31 / West Evans Street
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 131.9 mi | 2h 21m |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Fording Island Road | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Okatie Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Bluffton Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West David H McLeod Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Bluffton, SC.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn left onto East Cheves Street
Turn right onto Warley Street
Turn left onto S-21-31
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
Continue on I 20 Bus
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Turn left onto SC 462
Continue on SC 462
Turn right onto SC 170
Take the exit
Merge onto US 278
Turn right onto SC 46
Enter roundabout onto SC 46
Continue on SC 46
Turn left onto Bruin Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 83.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluffton, SC than in the middle of the route.
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 167 miles and 3h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.5 mi from Florence, SC · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 83.5 miles from Florence, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.9 miles.
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.
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.
Regular Gas
$26.73 one way
$53.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $29.12 | $58.24 |
| premium | $4.78 | $31.41 | $62.83 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.10 | $74.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.1 | 0 | $17.54 | $8.02 |
| Efficient EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.61 | $6.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.38 | $10.69 |
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Florence on Sunday
Local time
4:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Bluffton on Sunday
Local time
4:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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