The drive from Mount Pleasant, SC to Dalzell, SC covers 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 17m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, I 95, US 521 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.7 miles on I 26.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.52 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
59.2 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 118.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 17m highway drive covering 118.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.7 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 23 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 41.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 118.4 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: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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|SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard
Turn right onto SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
13.3 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 18B
Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue
5
15.3 mi into trip|~20m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
57 mi into trip|~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169B
Toward I 95 North: Florence
6
93.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
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 Mount Pleasant, SC to Dalzell, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Sumter along the way.
Sumter
93.2 mi in|~1h 46m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
41.7 mi
46m
I 95
35.4 mi
37m
US 521
12.4 mi
14m
Mark Clark Expressway
12 mi
14m
South Guignard Drive
3.6 mi
4m
Thomas Sumter Highway
3.4 mi
3m
Camden Highway
2.4 mi
3m
Chuck Dawley Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 41.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, SC and Dalzell, SC.
1
Start on this road
76 ft·10 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto SC 703
237 ft·9 sec·Coleman Boulevard
3
Turn left onto I 526 Bus
1.3 mi·2 min·Chuck Dawley Boulevard
4
Turn straight onto I 526
12 mi·14 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Toward North CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 18BToward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers AvenueUse the slight right lane.
6
Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78
1.1 mi·1 min·Rivers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn straight
0.1 mi·20 sec
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·45 sec
Toward I 26 North: Columbia
9
Merge onto I 26
42 mi·46 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 169BToward I 95 North: Florence
11
Merge onto I 95
35 mi·37 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
13
Keep slight left at fork
289 ft·7 sec
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
14
Turn left onto US 521
12 mi·14 min·US 521
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto US 521
1.1 mi·1 min·South Guignard Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi·4 min·South Guignard Drive
17
Continue on US 521
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 521; US 76 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
20
Continue on US 521
3.4 mi·3 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
21
Turn right onto Frierson Road
0.4 mi·34 sec·Frierson Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto Camden Highway
0.5 mi·1 min·Camden Highway
23
Arrive at destination
Camden Highway
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 59.2 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.7 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 9m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalzell, 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.
+
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 Mount Pleasant, SC
This is one driving day of about 118.4 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 41.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.2 mi from Mount Pleasant, SC
· 1h 9m into the drive
The midpoint is around 59.2 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dalzell, SC
The final approach into Dalzell, 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 Dalzell, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 114.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.52 one way
$37.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.24
$40.49
premium
$4.70
$21.91
$43.83
diesel
$5.61
$26.14
$52.28
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.5
0
$12.43
$5.68
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.36
$4.74
EV Truck/SUV
47.4
0
$16.58
$7.58
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
Night
in Mount Pleasant on Thursday
Local time
10:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dalzell, SC
Night
in Dalzell on Thursday
Local time
10:14 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
10 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
2h 17m 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 Dalzell, SC covers 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 95, US 521. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.2 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 $18.52 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 118.4 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: near the start (SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Mount Pleasant, SC to Dalzell, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Sumter along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National Park.
