The drive from Mauldin, SC to Cayce, SC covers 95.2 miles and takes about 1h 48m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, Golden Strip Freeway, US 276 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61 miles on I 26.
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.
Midpoint
47.6 miles from Mauldin, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 48m. Total distance: 95.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 48m highway drive covering 95.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 61 miles on I 26.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 26 is the longest continuous segment at about 61 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 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 right
Navigation decision point
5
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
32.5 mi into trip|~36m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
88.2 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
8
93.4 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, Cayce
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 113
Toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, Cayce
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 Mauldin, SC to Cayce, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
88.2 mi in|~1h 38m|via I 26
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
61 mi
1h 7m
Golden Strip Freeway
29.8 mi
32m
US 276
2.2 mi
3m
Airport Boulevard
1.1 mi
1m
Glenn Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Tarrytown Lane
<0.1 mi
<1m
Middleton Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 61 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mauldin, SC and Cayce, SC.
1
Start on this road
215 ft·18 sec·this road
2
Turn right
117 ft·11 sec
3
Turn right onto US 276
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Main Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276
2.2 mi·3 min·US 276
5
Merge onto I 385
30 mi·32 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 26
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
5.2 mi·6 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 113Toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, CayceUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Tarrytown Lane
348 ft·16 sec·Tarrytown Lane
10
Turn sharp left onto SC 302
1.1 mi·1 min·Airport Boulevard
11
Turn right onto Glenn Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Glenn Street
12
Turn left onto Middleton Street
165 ft·5 sec·Middleton Street
13
Arrive at destination
Middleton Street
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 Mauldin, SC, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61 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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.6 miles or 53m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cayce, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mauldin, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mauldin, SC
This is one driving day of about 95.2 miles and 1h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Mauldin, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 61 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.6 mi from Mauldin, SC
· 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Congaree National Park
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 95.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.89 one way
$29.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mauldin, SC
Morning
in Mauldin on Friday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cayce, SC
Morning
in Cayce on Friday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
27 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 48m 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 Mauldin, SC to Cayce, SC covers 95.2 miles and takes about 1h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, Golden Strip Freeway, US 276. 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 Mauldin, 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mauldin, SC to Cayce, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
