The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Awendaw, SC covers 160.4 miles and takes about 3h 21m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, US 17, Monticello Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 103.5 miles on I 26.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.08 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
80.2 miles from Rock Hill, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
103.5 mi
1h 54m
US 17
18.4 mi
25m
Monticello Road
12.6 mi
22m
Mark Clark Expressway
9.2 mi
11m
State Highway 215S
6.4 mi
11m
I 20
4 mi
4m
Long Point Road
3.1 mi
6m
Rivers Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 103.5 mi, about 1h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rock Hill, SC and Awendaw, SC.
1
Start on SC 215
6.4 mi·11 min·State Highway 215S
2
Continue on SC 215
13 mi·22 min·Monticello Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
4
Merge onto I 20
4.0 mi·4 min·I 20
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 64AToward I 26 East: CharlestonUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 26; US 76
0.7 mi·55 sec·I 26; US 76
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
103 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 26
Toward CharlestonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 211A-BToward Aviation Avenue, Remount RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 211BToward Remount Road, HanahanUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto Remount Road
0.4 mi·44 sec·Remount Road
12
Turn right onto US 52; US 78
0.8 mi·1 min·Rivers Avenue
13
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 526
9.2 mi·11 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 28Toward Long Point RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
167 ft·11 sec
Toward Long Point Road, Pinckney National Historic Site, Palmetto Island County ParkUse the left lane.
17
Turn left onto State Road S-10-97
1.9 mi·3 min·Long Point Road
18
Enter roundabout onto State Road S-10-97
80 ft·1 sec·Long Point Road
19
Continue on State Road S-10-97
1.2 mi·2 min·Long Point Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 17
0.8 mi·1 min·US 17
21
Continue on US 17
18 mi·23 min·US 17
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
US 17
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.2 miles from Rock Hill, SC, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.5 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 42m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Awendaw, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rock Hill, 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 Rock Hill, SC
This is one driving day of about 160.4 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Rock Hill, 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 26 for about 103.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 23.2 and 138.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23.2 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward I 26 East: Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 64A
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
7
24.2 mi into trip|~40m in|I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
8
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward Aviation Avenue, Remount Road
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 211A-B
Toward Aviation Avenue, Remount Road
9
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Remount Road, Hanahan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 211B
Toward Remount Road, Hanahan
9
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Long Point Road, Pinckney National Historic Site, Palmetto Island County Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Long Point Road, Pinckney National Histo...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.08 one way
$50.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.43
$54.85
premium
$4.70
$29.69
$59.37
diesel
$5.61
$35.41
$70.83
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Rock Hill, SC
Afternoon
in Rock Hill on Saturday
Local time
4:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Awendaw, SC
Afternoon
in Awendaw on Saturday
Local time
4:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Holly Hill, SC
80 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
20 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
3h 21m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
$10
near mile 138.3
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 49.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
160.4 mi in 3h 21m, mostly highway — 103.5 mi of that is on I 26.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.5 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and US 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 160.4 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: at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.2 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rock Hill, SC and Awendaw, SC, road signs point toward Charleston, Hanahan, Pinckney National Historic Site and Palmetto Island County Park.
Rock Hill is a small city in the Olde English District of South Carolina approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Charlotte and 70 miles (110 km) north of Columbia.
Rock Hill is essentially a commuter town and not on many tourists' radar, but does offer numerous outdoor activities and dining options.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 160.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.5 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Awendaw, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 23.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.2 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Awendaw, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
