Origin
Spartanburg, SC
Morning in Spartanburg on Saturday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spartanburg, SC to Arial, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Arial, SC
Nino Souza
Trip Overview
The drive from Spartanburg, SC to Arial, SC covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 85, Highway 153, Warren H Abernathy Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 25.3 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 47.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 12m highway drive covering 47.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 85 and Highway 153. The longest continuous stretch is about 25.3 miles on I 85.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 25.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Highway 153. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 29 / West Saint John Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 29 / West Saint John Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 29 / West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 29 / West Saint John Street
Turn left onto US 29 / West Saint John Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 29 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 29 / West Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
8.9 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
34.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward SC 153: Easley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40
Toward SC 153: Easley
5
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
Arial Street
Turn right onto Arial Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Spartanburg, SC to Arial, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp International Airport along the way.
Gsp International Airport
8.7 mi in
|
~15m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 25.3 mi | 31m |
| Highway 153 | 5.6 mi | 8m |
| Warren H Abernathy Highway | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| East Main Street | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| W O Ezell Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Calhoun Memorial Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Gentry Memorial Highway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Saint John Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 25.3 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spartanburg, SC and Arial, SC.
1
Start on US 221; SC 56
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
North Church Street
2
Turn left onto US 29
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Saint John Street
3
Turn right onto US 29
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on US 29
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
W O Ezell Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 29
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Warren H Abernathy Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 85 South: Greenville, GSP International Airport
7
Merge onto I 85
25 mi
·
31 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 40
Toward SC 153: Easley
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto SC 153
5.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 153
10
Enter roundabout
26 ft
·
0 sec
11
Continue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
12
Merge onto US 123
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Calhoun Memorial Highway
13
Turn slight right onto SC 93
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East Main Street
14
Continue on SC 8
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Gentry Memorial Highway
15
Turn right onto Rice Road
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Rice Road
16
Turn right onto Arial Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Arial Street
17
Turn left onto Cobb Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Cobb Street
18
Arrive at destination
Cobb Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Spartanburg, SC · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arial, SC
The final approach into Arial, 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
$7.46 one way
$14.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.16 | $16.31 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.53 | $21.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Arial, SC
Morning in Arial on Saturday
Local time
6:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
1 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 12m 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 Spartanburg, SC to Arial, SC covers 47.7 miles and takes about 1h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 85, Highway 153, Warren H Abernathy Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 miles from Spartanburg, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.46 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 29 / West Saint John Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 29 / West Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Spartanburg, SC to Arial, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Gsp International Airport along the way.
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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