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Trip from New Ellenton, SC to Florence, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 53m

Distance

142.8 mi

230 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 42m ★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 47m

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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Downtown New Ellenton, SC, SC

New Ellenton, SC

Connor Scott McManus

county seat of Florence County, South Carolina, United States

Florence, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from New Ellenton, SC to Florence, SC covers 142.8 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 20, Whiskey Road, Columbia Highway North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.9 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.33 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

71.4 miles from New Ellenton, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 142.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 53m highway drive covering 142.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and Whiskey Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 120.9 miles on I 20.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 120.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and Whiskey Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in near US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from New Ellenton, SC to Florence, SC is easy. At 2h 53m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles (US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.9 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

4
10.1 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East

Turn right onto US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East

Navigation decision point

5
18.7 mi into trip | ~29m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
141.9 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | Warley Street

Turn right onto Warley Street

Navigation decision point

4
142 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | West Cheves Street

Turn left onto West Cheves Street

Navigation decision point

5
142.8 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 120.9 mi 2h 16m
Whiskey Road 9 mi 16m
Columbia Highway North 5.8 mi 6m
West Evans Street 2.4 mi 4m
York Street Northeast 2.2 mi 3m
Main Street North 0.9 mi 1m
West Cheves Street 0.7 mi 1m
Chesterfield Street South 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 120.9 mi, about 2h 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Ellenton, SC and Florence, SC.

1

Start on SC 19

0.9 mi · 1 min · Main Street North
2

Continue on SC 19

9.0 mi · 16 min · Whiskey Road
3

Continue on SC 19

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Chesterfield Street South
4

Turn right onto US 1; US 78

357 ft · 8 sec · Richland Avenue East
5

Turn left onto US 1

2.2 mi · 3 min · York Street Northeast
6

Continue on US 1

5.8 mi · 6 min · Columbia Highway North
7

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
8

Merge onto I 20

121 mi · 2 hr 16 min · I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Turn left onto S-21-31

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Evans Street
10

Turn right onto Warley Street

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Warley Street
11

Turn left onto West Cheves Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Cheves Street
12

Turn right

133 ft · 11 sec
13

Turn right

50 ft · 3 sec
14

Arrive at destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.4 miles from New Ellenton, SC, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.9 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 31 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71.4 miles or 1h 29m 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 21m

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 New Ellenton, 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 New Ellenton, SC

This is one driving day of about 142.8 miles and 2h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from New Ellenton, 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 20 for about 120.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.4 mi from New Ellenton, SC · 1h 29m into the drive

town on the east coast of Fife in Scotland, UK

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Andrews, SC

71 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

Aiken, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Columbia, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.4 miles from New Ellenton, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.9 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

Congaree National Park

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 ~54 min detour Free near mile 73.9
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.33 one way

$44.66 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $24.42 $48.83
premium $4.70 $26.43 $52.86
diesel $5.61 $31.53 $63.06

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: 50 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.8 0 $14.99 $6.85
Efficient EV 35.7 0 $12.50 $5.71
EV Truck/SUV 57.1 0 $19.99 $9.14

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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

New Ellenton, SC

Morning in New Ellenton on Friday

Local time

10:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Florence, SC

Morning in Florence on Friday

Local time

10:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

83°F

Saint Andrews, SC

71 mi in

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

2h 53m 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 New Ellenton, SC to Florence, SC covers 142.8 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 20, Whiskey Road, Columbia Highway North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 71.4 miles from New Ellenton, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.33 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 drive from New Ellenton, SC to Florence, SC is easy. At 2h 53m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles (US 1; US 78 / Richland Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 18.7 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 141.9 miles (Warley Street): Navigation decision point.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Congaree National Park.

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.

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