Trip from Mount Pleasant, SC to Florence, SC

Drive Time

2h 38m

Distance

137.2 mi

221 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 28m ★

6 AM

2h 38m

8 AM

2h 59m

10 AM

2h 46m

12 PM

2h 44m

3 PM

2h 47m

5 PM

2h 58m

8 PM

2h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Mount Pleasant, SC

Connor Scott McManus

Florence, SC

Samual lim

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head from Mount Pleasant to Florence, you are looking at a 137.2-mile trek through the heart of South Carolina. This drive typically takes about 2 hours and 38 minutes, making it a highly manageable day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors, primarily utilizing the Mark Clark Expressway, I-26, and I-95. Budgeting around $22 for fuel should cover your transit costs comfortably. Because the entire journey remains within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent landscape throughout the trip. It is a straightforward, practical route designed for efficiency rather than sightseeing.

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

68.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 94% of this journey is spent on high-speed roads. The route transitions from the local connectivity of the Mark Clark Expressway onto the major interstate arteries that define transit in this area. You will encounter a significant stretch of open road, with your longest uninterrupted segment covering 73.9 miles along I-95. While the drive is efficient, be prepared for the steady, consistent pace that comes with navigating these primary interstate systems. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over the winding, technical turns of smaller state routes.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 19 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 early in the drive near SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 137.2 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 0.1 miles (I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard

Turn right onto SC 703 / Coleman Boulevard

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard

Turn left onto I 526 Bus / Chuck Dawley Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

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

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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 95	73.9 mi	1h 19m
I 26	41.7 mi	46m
Mark Clark Expressway	12 mi	14m
West Evans Street	2.4 mi	4m
I 20 Bus	1.6 mi	2m
Chuck Dawley Boulevard	1.3 mi	2m
Rivers Avenue	1.1 mi	1m
West Cheves Street	0.7 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 95 — 73.9 mi, about 1h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, SC and Florence, SC.

Start on this road

76 ft · 10 sec · this road

Turn right onto SC 703

237 ft · 9 sec · Coleman Boulevard

Turn left onto I 526 Bus

1.3 mi · 2 min · Chuck Dawley Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Turn straight onto I 526

12 mi · 14 min · Mark Clark Expressway

Toward North Charleston Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 18B Toward US 52 West, US 78 West: Rivers Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight right onto US 52; US 78

1.1 mi · 1 min · Rivers Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Turn straight

0.1 mi · 20 sec

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 45 sec

Toward I 26 North: Columbia

Merge onto I 26

42 mi · 46 min · I 26

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence

Merge onto I 95

74 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 95

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 20 Business East: Florence

Merge onto I 20 Bus

1.6 mi · 2 min · I 20 Bus

Turn left onto S-21-31

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Evans Street

Turn right onto Warley Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Warley Street

Turn left onto West Cheves Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Cheves Street

Turn right

133 ft · 11 sec

Turn right

50 ft · 3 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop will help break up the drive. Keep in mind that the majority of your time is spent on I-95, so stay alert for traffic fluctuations common on this major interstate artery. Because you are spending roughly $22 on fuel, filling up before you leave Mount Pleasant is an easy way to avoid mid-trip errands. Use your single planned stop to stretch your legs and refresh, especially if you hit the road during peak travel hours. Embracing the direct nature of this route allows you to reach Florence in under three hours without feeling rushed.

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 68.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, or about 1h 19m 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 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 6m

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 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 137.2 miles and 2h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 68.6 mi from Mount Pleasant, SC · 1h 19m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

69 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

Charlotte, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charlotte, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.6 miles from Mount Pleasant, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top 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

$21.96 one way

$43.91 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$23.92	$47.85
premium	$4.78	$25.81	$51.62
diesel	$5.64	$30.48	$60.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	41.2	$14.41	$6.59
Efficient EV	34.3	$12.00	$5.49
EV Truck/SUV	54.9	$19.21	$8.78

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Mount Pleasant, SC

Afternoon in Mount Pleasant on Sunday

Local time

4:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Florence, SC

Afternoon in Florence on Sunday

Local time

4:10 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

4 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 38m 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 Florence, SC covers 137.2 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 95, I 26, Mark Clark Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 68.6 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 $21.96 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The route from Mount Pleasant, SC to Florence, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Trip from Mount Pleasant, SC to Florence, SC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Florence, SC

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Mount Pleasant, SC

Florence, SC

Same local time

4 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 38m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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