Origin
Kiawah Island, SC
Afternoon in Kiawah Island on Tuesday
Local time
2:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kiawah Island, SC to Florence, SC
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
156.9 mi
253 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 26m
8 AM
3h 50m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 32m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 49m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Kiawah Island, SC to Florence, SC covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, I 26, Bohicket Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.9 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.11 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
78.5 miles from Kiawah Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 26m highway drive covering 156.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.9 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 27 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 73.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Kiawah Island Parkway.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 156.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Kiawah Island Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Kiawah Island Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto Kiawah Island Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
32.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 26: Charleston, Columbia
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 17
Toward I 26: Charleston, Columbia
8
32.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 26 West: Columbia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5
33.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
76.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
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 Kiawah Island, SC to Florence, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
Columbia
32.6 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 73.9 mi | 1h 19m |
| I 26 | 43.3 mi | 47m |
| Bohicket Road | 7.3 mi | 17m |
| Main Road | 7 mi | 12m |
| Mark Clark Expressway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Kiawah Island Parkway | 4.4 mi | 9m |
| Betsy Kerrison Parkway | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| Glenn McConnell Parkway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 73.9 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kiawah Island, SC and Florence, SC.
1
Start on this road
103 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
281 ft
·
20 sec
3
Continue on Turtle Point Lane
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Turtle Point Lane
4
Turn right onto Green Dolphin Way
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Dolphin Way
5
At end of road, turn left onto Kiawah Island Parkway
4.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Kiawah Island Parkway
Use the straight lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto Betsy Kerrison Parkway
28 ft
·
0 sec
·
Betsy Kerrison Parkway
7
Continue on Betsy Kerrison Parkway
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Betsy Kerrison Parkway
8
Continue on Bohicket Road
7.3 mi
·
17 min
·
Bohicket Road
9
Continue on Main Road
7.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Main Road
10
Turn right onto S-10-57
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Bees Ferry Road
11
Turn right onto SC 461
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Glenn McConnell Parkway
12
Continue on SC 461
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Paul Cantrell Boulevard
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
14
Merge onto I 526
4.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Mark Clark Expressway
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 17
Toward I 26: Charleston, Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 26
43 mi
·
47 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
19
Merge onto I 95
74 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
21
Merge onto I 20 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20 Bus
22
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
23
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warley Street
24
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cheves Street
25
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
26
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
27
Arrive at destination
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 78.5 miles from Kiawah Island, SC, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.9 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 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.5 miles or 1h 56m 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 50m
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 Kiawah Island, 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 Kiawah Island, SC
This is one driving day of about 156.9 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kiawah Island, 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 73.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.5 mi from Kiawah Island, SC · 1h 56m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.5 miles from Kiawah Island, 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 73.9 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Florence, 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
$25.11 one way
$50.22 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $27.36 | $54.72 |
| premium | $4.78 | $29.51 | $59.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.86 | $69.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.47 | $7.53 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.73 | $6.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
Gas CO2
55 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.
Destination
Florence, SC
Afternoon in Florence on Tuesday
Local time
2:03 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
11 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
3h 26m 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 Kiawah Island, SC to Florence, SC covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, I 26, Bohicket Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.5 miles from Kiawah Island, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.11 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 156.9 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Kiawah Island Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 32.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Kiawah Island, SC to Florence, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Columbia along the way.
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