Origin
North Charleston, SC
Late night in North Charleston on Saturday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Charleston, SC to Summerville, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
19.9 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Charleston, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Summerville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 19.9-mile drive from North Charleston, SC to Summerville, SC takes about 26 minutes and is easily manageable as a single-day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, with 82% of the journey on interstates, making it a quick and efficient connection within the Southeast region. With a modest fuel cost of around $3, this is a budget-friendly option for a quick excursion. You'll find yourself on major roads like I-26 and North Main Street, making navigation straightforward. Given its brevity, it’s an ideal choice for a spontaneous outing or a brief errand between these two South Carolina cities.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 19.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 19.9-mile trip, with 82% of the drive on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.2 miles on I-26, offering a consistent pace. You'll transition from interstate travel to more local roads like North Main Street and Dorchester Road as you approach your destination. While not a winding scenic byway, this route provides a direct and functional connection, prioritizing efficiency over leisurely exploration. The character of the drive is defined by its practicality, moving you smoothly between North Charleston and Summerville.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 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 16.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and North Main Street. 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 26m drive. You will face about 7 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 7 key pointsThese 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.
7
17.4 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
5
19.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
East Richardson Avenue
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 16.2 mi | 19m |
| North Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Dorchester Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Rivers Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Richardson Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 16.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston, SC and Summerville, 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
16 mi
·
19 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 199A
Toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Use the right lane.
6
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
116 ft
·
5 sec
·
East Richardson Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right
92 ft
·
6 sec
9
Arrive at destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.11 one way
$6.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.40 | $6.81 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.68 | $7.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.39 | $8.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.96 |
| Efficient EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.27 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Summerville, SC
Late night in Summerville on Saturday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
22 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
26m 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 Summerville, SC covers 19.9 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 26, North Main Street, Dorchester Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.9 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 $3.11 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 26m drive. You will face about 7 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.
The route from North Charleston, SC to Summerville, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical 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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