Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
242.5 mi
390 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Photo: Connor Scott McManus
The drive from Gaffney, SC to Bluffton, SC covers 242.5 miles and takes about 4h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Rutledge Avenue, College Drive, Union Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.82 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
121.2 miles from Gaffney, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 51m drive with frequent turns across 242.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 51m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Gaffney, SC to Bluffton, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Rutledge Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| College Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Union Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Frederick Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Union Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gaffney Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pacolet Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Gaffney, SC and Bluffton, SC.
Start on South Limestone Street
Turn left onto East Rutledge Avenue
Continue on College Drive
Turn left onto Union Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto East Frederick Street
Continue on Union Highway
Continue on Gaffney Highway
Continue on Pacolet Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Main Street
Continue on Jonesville Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Jonesville Highway
Continue on Jonesville Highway
Continue on Thompson Boulevard
Continue on North Pinckney Street
Continue on Whitmire Highway
Turn slight left onto Watson Street
Keep slight right to continue on State Highway 121
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on Charleston
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
Turn right onto Okatie Highway
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road
Turn right onto Bluffton Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bluffton Road
Exit the roundabout onto Bluffton Road
Turn left onto Bruin Road
Arrive at your 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.2 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluffton, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gaffney, 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 Gaffney, SC
This is one driving day of about 242.5 miles and 4h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 121.2 mi from Gaffney, SC · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 121.2 miles from Gaffney, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$37.82 one way
$75.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $42.28 | $84.57 |
| premium | $4.78 | $45.62 | $91.23 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $53.69 | $107.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.46 | $11.64 |
| Efficient EV | 60.6 | 0 | $21.22 | $9.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97 | 1 | $33.95 | $15.52 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in Gaffney on Saturday
Local time
1:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Bluffton on Saturday
Local time
1:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
63°F
Archdale, NC
121 mi in
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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