Origin
South Santee, SC
Morning in South Santee on Monday
Local time
7:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Santee, SC to Folly Beach, SC
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
54.4 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Folly Beach, SC
Dominik Gryzbon
Trip Overview
The drive from South Santee, SC to Folly Beach, SC covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Folly Road, James Island Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 44 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.71 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
27.2 miles from South Santee, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 54.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Folly Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 44 miles on US 17.
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.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 44 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Folly Road. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from South Santee, SC to Folly Beach, SC is easy. At 1h 18m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (SC 30 / Lockwood Drive): Navigation decision point; at 44.3 miles (SC 30): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17
Depart onto US 17
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
44.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
SC 30 / Lockwood Drive
Turn left onto SC 30 / Lockwood Drive
Navigation decision point
4
44.3 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
SC 30
Take the ramp onto SC 30 toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
4
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
SC 171 / Folly Road
At end of road, turn left onto SC 171 / Folly Road
Navigation decision point
4
54.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
East Arctic Avenue
Turn left onto East Arctic Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 44 mi | 59m |
| Folly Road | 6.7 mi | 12m |
| James Island Expressway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Center Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| SC 30 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Lockwood Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Arctic Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 44 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Santee, SC and Folly Beach, SC.
1
Start on US 17
44 mi
·
59 min
·
US 17
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on Spring Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Spring Street
3
Turn left onto SC 30
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Lockwood Drive
4
Take the ramp onto SC 30
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
SC 30
Toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach
5
Merge onto SC 30
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
James Island Expressway
6
At end of road, turn left onto SC 171
6.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Folly Road
7
Continue on SC 171
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto East Arctic Avenue
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Arctic Avenue
9
Arrive at destination
East Arctic Avenue
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 27.2 miles from South Santee, SC, or about 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44 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 54.4 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.2 miles or 36m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Folly Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Santee, 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 South Santee, SC
This is one driving day of about 54.4 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Santee, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 44 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from South Santee, SC · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from South Santee, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Folly Beach, SC
The final approach into Folly Beach, 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 Folly Beach, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.71 one way
$17.41 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $9.49 | $18.97 |
| premium | $4.78 | $10.23 | $20.47 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $12.09 | $24.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Folly Beach, SC
Morning in Folly Beach on Monday
Local time
7:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 3 mph
0% chance
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
18 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 18m 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 South Santee, SC to Folly Beach, SC covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Folly Road, James Island Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from South Santee, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.71 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 South Santee, SC to Folly Beach, SC is easy. At 1h 18m with 86% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 44.2 miles (SC 30 / Lockwood Drive): Navigation decision point; at 44.3 miles (SC 30): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from South Santee, SC to Folly Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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