Trip from Florence, SC to Blythewood, SC

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

82.6 mi

133 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Florence, SC, SC

Florence, SC

Samual lim

Downtown Blythewood, SC, SC

Blythewood, SC

Colon Freld

Trip Overview

Traveling from Florence to Blythewood covers 82.6 miles of South Carolina terrain, making for a straightforward trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes. Because the trip is short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, including the J Strom Thurmond Freeway and the Charles F Bolden Freeway. Budget approximately $13 for fuel to complete this one-way journey across the Southeast region. This route is ideal for those seeking a direct, no-fuss connection between these two points in the Palmetto State.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

41.3 miles from Florence, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience as 93% of this drive takes place on high-speed roads. Your journey is anchored by a significant 65.8-mile stretch on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, which allows for consistent cruising speed. While you begin with local navigation on West Evans Street, the trip quickly transitions into a sustained interstate run. You won't encounter the winding curves of backroads here; instead, anticipate a steady, predictable pace behind the wheel. It is a functional, utilitarian drive designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal interruption.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
J Strom Thurmond Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 65.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and Charles F Bolden Freeway. You will hit about 11 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 82.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 70.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 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

8
70.5 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston

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 76A Toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston
7
70.8 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 77 North: Charlotte

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 77 North: Charlotte
7
81.8 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward Blythewood Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 27 Toward Blythewood Road

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Florence, SC to Blythewood, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.

Charleston

70.5 mi in | ~1h 21m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
J Strom Thurmond Freeway 65.8 mi 1h 11m
Charles F Bolden Freeway 10.6 mi 12m
West Evans Street 2.4 mi 4m
West David H McLeod Boulevard 1.5 mi 2m
East Cheves Street 0.7 mi 1m
Blythewood Road 0.4 mi <1m
Warley Street 0.1 mi <1m
Main Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: J Strom Thurmond Freeway — 65.8 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence, SC and Blythewood, 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

66 mi · 1 hr 11 min · J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Exit 76A Toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 77 North: Charlotte Use the slight right lane.
10

Merge onto I 77

11 mi · 12 min · Charles F Bolden Freeway
Use the none lane.
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 27 Toward Blythewood Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight right at fork

304 ft · 7 sec
13

Turn slight right onto Blythewood Road

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Blythewood Road
14

At end of road, turn left onto US 21

72 ft · 1 sec · Main Street
15

Arrive at destination

US 21

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick trip under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily manage the entire 82.6 miles without needing to schedule formal stops, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the freeway is a smart habit to ensure you stay within your $13 gas budget. If you are prone to fatigue, even a brief break after exiting the J Strom Thurmond Freeway can help you stay alert for the final approach into Blythewood. Planning your departure to avoid peak commuter traffic on the freeways will make your time on the road feel significantly smoother. Always double-check your navigation before pulling out of Florence, as the transition from local streets to the freeway system happens early in your drive.

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 41.3 miles from Florence, SC, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.8 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.3 miles or 49m 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 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blythewood, 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 82.6 miles and 1h 36m.

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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 65.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.3 mi from Florence, SC · 49m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

41 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 41.3 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.8 miles.

Arriving in Blythewood, SC

The final approach into Blythewood, 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 Blythewood, 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

$13.22 one way

$26.44 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $14.40 $28.81
premium $4.78 $15.54 $31.08
diesel $5.64 $18.35 $36.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.8 0 $8.67 $3.96
Efficient EV 20.7 0 $7.23 $3.30
EV Truck/SUV 33 0 $11.56 $5.29

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Florence, SC

Evening in Florence on Sunday

Local time

6:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Blythewood, SC

Evening in Blythewood on Sunday

Local time

6:56 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 36m 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 Blythewood, SC covers 82.6 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are J Strom Thurmond Freeway, Charles F Bolden Freeway, West Evans Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.3 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 $13.22 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 70.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Florence, SC to Blythewood, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Blythewood, SC to Florence, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

83.3 mi 1h 38m

Explore more options from Florence, SC or browse trips ending in Blythewood, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.

Explore maps for Florence, SC or Blythewood, SC on MapSof.net.