Origin
South Santee, SC
Morning in South Santee on Saturday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Santee, SC to North Charleston, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 3m
Distance
46.7 mi
75 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Santee, SC
Hilary Halliwell
North Charleston, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from South Santee, SC to North Charleston, SC covers 46.7 miles and takes about 1h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Meeting Street, Carner Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.2 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 46.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 3m highway drive covering 46.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Meeting Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 42.2 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 8 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 42.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Meeting Street. 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from South Santee, SC to North Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 3m with 90% 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 42.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (US 52 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 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.
6
42.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward Meeting Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Meeting Street
5
42.6 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 52 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto US 52 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 42.2 mi | 56m |
| Meeting Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Carner Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Meeting Street Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Rivers Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 42.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Santee, SC and North Charleston, SC.
1
Start on US 17
42 mi
·
56 min
·
US 17
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward Meeting Street
Use the slight right lane.
3
Turn right onto US 52
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 52
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Meeting Street Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on US 52
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
Meeting Street Road
6
Continue on US 52
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Carner Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 52; US 78
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Rivers Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
US 52; US 78
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.3 mi from South Santee, SC · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.3 miles from South Santee, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Charleston, SC
The final approach into North Charleston, 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
$7.30 one way
$14.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.98 | $15.97 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.64 | $17.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.31 | $20.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 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 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
| Efficient EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.09 | $1.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
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.
Destination
North Charleston, SC
Morning in North Charleston on Saturday
Local time
8:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
2 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
1h 3m 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 South Santee, SC to North Charleston, SC covers 46.7 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Meeting Street, Carner Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.3 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 $7.30 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 North Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 3m with 90% 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 42.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (US 52 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from South Santee, SC to North Charleston, 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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Return Trip
North Charleston, SC to South Santee, SCPlan the drive back the other way.
46.8 mi
1h 4m
Continue From North Charleston, SC
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