Origin
Gaston, SC
Evening in Gaston on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gaston, SC to Florence, SC
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
95.2 mi
153 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 53m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 57m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaston, SC
Daniel Sell
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Gaston, SC to Florence, SC covers 95.2 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, William Earle Berne Beltway, Highway 321 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66.8 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.89 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
47.6 miles from Gaston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 53m highway drive covering 95.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and William Earle Berne Beltway. The longest continuous stretch is about 66.8 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 66.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and William Earle Berne Beltway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 24 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
24 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 20: Augusta, Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward I 20: Augusta, Florence
7
24.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 20 East: Florence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
24.6 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Florence
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
25.2 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
95.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
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 Gaston, SC to Florence, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
Charlotte
8.2 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 66.8 mi | 1h 14m |
| William Earle Berne Beltway | 12.3 mi | 15m |
| Highway 321 | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Veterans Memorial Freeway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Charleston Highway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Cheves Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaston, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on US 321
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
Continue on US 321
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 321
3
Continue on US 21; US 176; US 321
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Charleston Highway
4
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Charlotte
5
Continue on I 77
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Veterans Memorial Freeway
6
Continue on I 77
12 mi
·
15 min
·
William Earle Berne Beltway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 16
Toward I 20: Augusta, Florence
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 East: Florence
10
Merge onto I 20
67 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
12
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warley Street
13
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cheves Street
14
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
15
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 47.6 miles from Gaston, SC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.6 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Gaston, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gaston, SC
This is one driving day of about 95.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Gaston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 20 for about 66.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.6 mi from Gaston, SC · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.6 miles from Gaston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66.8 miles.
Arriving in Florence, SC
The final approach into Florence, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.89 one way
$29.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $16.28 | $32.56 |
| premium | $4.70 | $17.62 | $35.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.02 | $42.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.00 | $4.57 |
| Efficient EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.33 | $3.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.33 | $6.09 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Florence, SC
Evening in Florence on Wednesday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 53m 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 Gaston, SC to Florence, SC covers 95.2 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, William Earle Berne Beltway, Highway 321. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.6 miles from Gaston, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.89 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 95.2 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Gaston, SC to Florence, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charlotte along the way.
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