The drive from Mount Pleasant, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 75.3 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Trask Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on Savannah Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.78 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
37.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 75.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Mount Pleasant, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 75.3 miles and takes about 1h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Savannah Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (SC 703): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard
Turn left onto SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard
Navigation decision point
3
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|SC 703
Take the ramp onto SC 703 toward US 17 South: Charleston
Navigation decision point
Toward US 17 South: Charleston
5
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in|US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Merge onto US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
7 mi into trip|~12m in|US 17 / Savannah Highway
Merge onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
59.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|Trask Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Savannah Highway
29.7 mi
43m
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi
22m
Trask Parkway
12 mi
14m
Charleston Highway
5.6 mi
7m
Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
3.7 mi
5m
Boundary Street
3 mi
4m
West Coleman Boulevard
1.1 mi
2m
Coleman Boulevard
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 29.7 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, SC and Beaufort, SC.
1
Start on this road
76 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto SC 703
1.0 mi·2 min·Coleman Boulevard
3
Continue on SC 703
1.1 mi·2 min·West Coleman Boulevard
4
Take the ramp onto SC 703
0.5 mi·1 min·SC 703
Toward US 17 South: Charleston
5
Merge onto US 17
3.7 mi·5 min·Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi·15 sec·Septima P. Clark Parkway
7
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi·13 sec·Spring Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on Spring Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Spring Street
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·20 sec·this road
10
Merge onto US 17
30 mi·43 min·Savannah Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
12
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
14
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft·2 sec·Trask Parkway
15
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
16
Continue on US 21
3.0 mi·4 min·Boundary Street
17
Continue on US 21 Business
0.5 mi·54 sec·Carteret Street
18
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
39 ft·1 sec·Port Republic Street
19
Arrive at destination
Port Republic 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 37.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 17 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.6 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaufort, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Pleasant, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mount Pleasant, SC
This is one driving day of about 75.3 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 29.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.6 mi from Mount Pleasant, SC
· 57m 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.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.78 one way
$23.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.88
$25.75
premium
$4.70
$13.94
$27.87
diesel
$5.61
$16.63
$33.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
10 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Citadel Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Charleston, SC
Tesla
12 DCFC
PALMETTO EV PALMETTO1
Charleston, SC
ChargePoint Network
2 DCFC
PALMETTO EV PALMETTO2
Charleston, SC
ChargePoint Network
2 DCFC
Hudson Nissan
Charleston, SC
Non-Networked
2 DCFC
SEC Charleston
Charleston, SC
Non-Networked
1 DCFC
Hudson Nissan
Charleston, SC
Non-Networked
1 DCFC
GOC GOC PUBLIC #1
Charleston, SC
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
GOC GOC PUBLIC #2
Charleston, SC
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 6
Non-Networked: 3
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.6
0
$7.91
$3.61
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.59
$3.01
EV Truck/SUV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Mount Pleasant, SC
Morning
in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
8:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Beaufort, SC
Morning
in Beaufort on Saturday
Local time
8:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
25 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 47m 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 Mount Pleasant, SC to Beaufort, SC covers 75.3 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Trask Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.78 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 is a straightforward 1h 47m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (SC 703): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Mount Pleasant, SC to Beaufort, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
