Trip from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC

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

Drive Time

2h 25m

Distance

102 mi

164 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 29 min

4 AM

2h 16m ★

6 AM

2h 26m

8 AM

2h 45m

10 AM

2h 32m

12 PM

2h 30m

3 PM

2h 33m

5 PM

2h 44m

8 PM

2h 20m

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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Simpsonville, SC

Connor Scott McManus

Aiken, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC covers 102 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Sleepy Creek Road, Greenwood Highway, Edgefield Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.1 miles on Sleepy Creek Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.95 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

51 miles from Simpsonville, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 102 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (34%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC covers 102 miles and takes about 2h 25m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Sleepy Creek Road is the longest continuous segment at about 18.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

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 25m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Hedge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SC 417 / East Curtis Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Hedge Street

Turn left onto Hedge Street

Navigation decision point

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | SC 417 / East Curtis Street

Turn left onto SC 417 / East Curtis Street

Navigation decision point

1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway

Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

102 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | SC 19 / Chesterfield Street South

Turn right onto SC 19 / Chesterfield Street South

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Sleepy Creek Road	18.1 mi	25m
Greenwood Highway	10.5 mi	15m
Edgefield Highway	10.1 mi	15m
SC 14	9.7 mi	14m
Golden Strip Freeway	7.8 mi	8m
US 221	7.4 mi	8m
Augusta Road	5.2 mi	6m
Bauskett Street	3.9 mi	4m

Longest stretch: Sleepy Creek Road — 18.1 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Simpsonville, SC and Aiken, SC.

Start on this road

107 ft · 9 sec · this road

Turn right

175 ft · 17 sec

Turn left onto Hedge Street

146 ft · 11 sec · Hedge Street

Turn left onto SC 417

374 ft · 13 sec · East Curtis Street

Turn left onto SC 14

1.1 mi · 2 min · Southeast Main Street

Turn right onto Fairview Road

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Fairview Road

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Merge onto I 385

7.8 mi · 8 min · Golden Strip Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit onto SC 14

9.7 mi · 14 min · SC 14

Toward SC 14 East: Owings

Turn right onto Welcome Church Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Welcome Church Road

Turn right onto Whelon Road

2.1 mi · 3 min · Whelon Road

Continue on Stagecoach Road

3.0 mi · 5 min · Stagecoach Road

At end of road, turn right onto US 221

2.6 mi · 3 min · Greenwood Road

Continue on US 221

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Greenwood Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 221

9.6 mi · 14 min · Greenwood Highway

Turn right onto US 221; SC 72

7.4 mi · 8 min · US 221; SC 72

Turn left onto S-24-99

0.7 mi · 1 min · Kateway

Turn right onto S-24-236

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Emerald Road

Turn left onto US 25; US 178; US 221

3.9 mi · 4 min · US 25; US 178; US 221

Turn left onto US 25; US 178

2.8 mi · 3 min · Highway 25 South

Continue on US 25; US 178

2.5 mi · 3 min · Warren Road

Continue on US 25

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Epworth Camp Road East

Continue on US 25

3.9 mi · 5 min · McFerrin Road

Continue on US 25

0.7 mi · 55 sec · Greenwood Highway

Continue on US 25

18 mi · 25 min · Sleepy Creek Road

Turn right onto US 25 Truck

3.9 mi · 4 min · Bauskett Street

Continue on US 25

5.2 mi · 6 min · Augusta Road

Continue on SC 19

3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 19

Continue on SC 19

10 mi · 15 min · Edgefield Highway

Continue on SC 19

1.5 mi · 2 min · Laurens Street Northwest

Turn left onto US 1; US 78; SC 19

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Richland Avenue West

Turn right onto SC 19

50 ft · 1 sec · Chesterfield Street South

Arrive at destination

SC 19

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 51 miles from Simpsonville, SC, or about 1h 14m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.1 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 51 miles or 1h 14m 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 58m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Simpsonville, 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 Simpsonville, SC

This is one driving day of about 102 miles and 2h 25m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Simpsonville, SC.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Sleepy Creek Road for about 18.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 51 mi from Simpsonville, SC · 1h 14m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ninety Six, SC

51 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

Fountain Inn, SC

Fuel and coffee

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

Greenwood, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51 miles from Simpsonville, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Aiken, SC

The final approach into Aiken, 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 Aiken, SC.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

The Parlour Coffee & Company

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aiken, South Carolina

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 102

Hours: 5:30 am–5 pm

+19164302868

Regular Gas

$15.95 one way

$31.90 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$17.44	$34.88
premium	$4.70	$18.88	$37.76
diesel	$5.61	$22.52	$45.04

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

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	30.6	$10.71	$4.90
Efficient EV	25.5	$8.92	$4.08
EV Truck/SUV	40.8	$14.28	$6.53

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (67% 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

Simpsonville, SC

Evening in Simpsonville on Friday

Local time

8:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Aiken, SC

Evening in Aiken on Friday

Local time

8:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

1 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 25m 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 Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC covers 102 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Sleepy Creek Road, Greenwood Highway, Edgefield Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 51 miles from Simpsonville, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.95 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 25m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The route from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Simpsonville, SC or browse trips ending in Aiken, SC.

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Trip from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Aiken, SC

Nearby Places

The Parlour Coffee & Company

The Parlour Coffee & Company

Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum

Aiken County Historical Museum

Savannah River Site Museum

PlayLand of Aiken

Richardson's Lake Water Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Simpsonville, SC

Aiken, SC

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 25m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Simpsonville, SC to Aiken, SC?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Aiken, SC

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