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Trip from North Charleston, SC to Wedgefield, SC

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 8m

Distance

99.3 mi

160 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min
4 AM
1h 59m ★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m

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

city in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, South Carolina, United States

North Charleston, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Wedgefield, SC, SC

Wedgefield, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Charleston, SC to Wedgefield, SC covers 99.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m 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, Summerton Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.3 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.53 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

49.6 miles from North Charleston, 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 2h 8m. Total distance: 99.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (69%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 8m highway drive covering 99.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.3 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 18 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 46.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near SC 642 / Dorchester Road.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 8m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (SC 642 / Dorchester Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | SC 642 / Dorchester Road

Turn left onto SC 642 / Dorchester Road

Navigation decision point

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 26 West: Columbia

Navigation decision point

Toward I 26 West: Columbia
5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
47.4 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence
8
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Take the exit toward Buff Boulevard, Summerton

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 108 Toward Buff Boulevard, Summerton

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 North Charleston, SC to Wedgefield, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Summerton along the way.

Summerton

69.7 mi in | ~1h 18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 46.3 mi 51m
I 95 21.5 mi 23m
Summerton Highway 8.7 mi 13m
South Kings Highway 8.2 mi 14m
East Clark Street 3.7 mi 6m
West Fulton Street 3.5 mi 6m
Paxville Highway 2.3 mi 4m
South Church Street 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 46.3 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston, SC and Wedgefield, SC.

1

Start on US 52; US 78

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Rivers Avenue
2

Turn left onto SC 642

0.6 mi · 1 min · Dorchester Road
3

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
4

Merge onto I 26

46 mi · 51 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 169B Toward I 95 North: Florence
6

Merge onto I 95

21 mi · 23 min · I 95
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 108 Toward Buff Boulevard, Summerton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Turn left onto Buff Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · Buff Boulevard
9

Turn slight right onto US 15; US 301

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Church Street
10

Continue on US 15

8.7 mi · 13 min · Summerton Highway
11

Turn left onto SC 261

2.3 mi · 4 min · Paxville Highway
12

Continue on SC 261

3.7 mi · 6 min · East Clark Street
13

Keep slight left at fork onto SC 261

0.2 mi · 23 sec · East Fulton Street
14

Continue on SC 261

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Fulton Manning Road
15

Continue on SC 261

3.5 mi · 6 min · West Fulton Street
16

Continue on SC 261

8.2 mi · 14 min · South Kings Highway
17

Continue on SC 261

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Highway 261 South
18

Arrive at destination

SC 261

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 49.6 miles from North Charleston, SC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.3 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 22 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.6 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wedgefield, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, SC

This is one driving day of about 99.3 miles and 2h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from North Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 46.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.6 mi from North Charleston, SC · 57m into the drive

Downtown Holly Hill, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Holly Hill, SC

50 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

Summerville, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Holly Hill, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.6 miles from North Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Wedgefield, SC

The final approach into Wedgefield, 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 Wedgefield, 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

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...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour $10
View on nps.gov
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...

14 mi from route ~35 min detour Free near mile 95.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.53 one way

$31.06 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.98 $33.96
premium $4.70 $18.38 $36.76
diesel $5.61 $21.92 $43.85

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.8 0 $10.43 $4.77
Efficient EV 24.8 0 $8.69 $3.97
EV Truck/SUV 39.7 0 $13.90 $6.36

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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 16, 2026

Origin

North Charleston, SC

Night in North Charleston on Thursday

Local time

11:00 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

SW 9 to 16 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Wedgefield, SC

Night in Wedgefield on Thursday

Local time

11:00 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Holly Hill, SC

50 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

36 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 8m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from North Charleston, SC to Wedgefield, SC covers 99.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, I 95, Summerton Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49.6 miles from North Charleston, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.53 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 2h 8m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (SC 642 / Dorchester Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from North Charleston, SC to Wedgefield, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Summerton along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National Park.

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