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Trip from Rock Hill, SC to Clinton, SC

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

Drive Time

1h 1m

Distance

47 mi

76 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 56m ★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m

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

city in York County, South Carolina, United States

Rock Hill, SC

Wikimedia Commons

city in Laurens County, South Carolina, United States

Clinton, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 47-mile drive from Rock Hill, SC to Clinton, SC is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in just over an hour, making it an ideal day trip. The route primarily utilizes I-26, with brief segments on Parr Road and State Highway 202, offering a predominantly highway experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $7, this short hop through the Southeast region of South Carolina is budget-friendly. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. Consider this a convenient and efficient way to travel between these two South Carolina locales.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 47 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for 84% of this 47-mile trip, mostly along I-26. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 31.2 miles on I-26, meaning you'll be in a steady cruising mode for a significant portion. While the majority of the journey is on faster roads, there are shorter segments on Parr Road and State Highway 202 that will introduce a slight change of pace. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways, offering a practical driving experience.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 31.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Parr Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Clinton, SC is easy. At 1h 1m with 84% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

4
12.3 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
12.6 mi into trip | ~21m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
43.8 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward SC 72: Clinton

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 54 Toward SC 72: Clinton
4
44.1 mi into trip | ~55m in | SC 72

Turn left onto SC 72

Navigation decision point

4
46.6 mi into trip | ~1h in | US 76 / East Carolina Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto US 76 / East Carolina Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 26 31.2 mi 33m
Parr Road 4.3 mi 7m
State Highway 202 2.6 mi 4m
US 176 2.3 mi 3m
State Highway 215S 2.1 mi 3m
SC 72 1.4 mi 1m
North Adair Street 1.1 mi 2m
Jenkinsville Road 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 26 — 31.2 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rock Hill, SC and Clinton, SC.

1

Start on SC 215

2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 215S
2

Turn straight onto Fire Tower Road

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Fire Tower Road
3

Continue on Jenkinsville Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Jenkinsville Road
4

Turn left onto SC 213

4.3 mi · 7 min · Parr Road
5

Turn right onto US 176

2.3 mi · 3 min · US 176
6

Turn left onto SC 202

2.6 mi · 4 min · State Highway 202
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
8

Merge onto I 26

31 mi · 33 min · I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Exit 54 Toward SC 72: Clinton Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Turn left onto SC 72

1.4 mi · 1 min · SC 72
11

Turn straight onto North Adair Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · North Adair Street
12

At end of road, turn right onto US 76

0.4 mi · 34 sec · East Carolina Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

US 76

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.5 mi from Rock Hill, SC · 33m into the drive

city and county seat of Newberry County, South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newberry, SC

24 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

Chapin, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Newberry, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.5 miles from Rock Hill, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clinton, SC

The final approach into Clinton, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.35 one way

$14.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $8.04 $16.07
premium $4.70 $8.70 $17.40
diesel $5.61 $10.38 $20.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.1 0 $4.94 $2.26
Efficient EV 11.8 0 $4.11 $1.88
EV Truck/SUV 18.8 0 $6.58 $3.01

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 14, 2026

Origin

Rock Hill, SC

Morning in Rock Hill on Friday

Local time

10:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Sunny

SW 6 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Clinton, SC

Morning in Clinton on Friday

Local time

10:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

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

38 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

1h 1m 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 Rock Hill, SC to Clinton, SC covers 47 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 26, Parr Road, State Highway 202. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 23.5 miles from Rock Hill, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.35 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.

The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Clinton, SC is easy. At 1h 1m with 84% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 12.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Rock Hill, SC to Clinton, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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