The Coffee House
Near the end, ~12 min detour
North Charleston, South Carolina
Hours: 8:30 am–2 pm
+18433679070
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 31m
Distance
183.6 mi
295 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tega Cay, SC
Daniel Sell
Goose Creek, SC
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Tega Cay, SC to Goose Creek, SC covers 183.6 miles and takes about 3h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, I 77, William Earle Berne Beltway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.8 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.71 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
91.8 miles from Tega Cay, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 31m. Total distance: 183.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 3h 31m highway drive covering 183.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 77. The longest continuous stretch is about 88.8 miles on I 26.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 77. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Windward Drive.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 183.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Windward Drive): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.3 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.5 miles (I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Enter roundabout onto Windward Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Merge onto I 77
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77 / Charles F Bolden Freeway toward I 77: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 26 East: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward US 78 East: Goose Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 88.8 mi | 1h 35m |
| I 77 | 66.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| William Earle Berne Beltway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Charles F Bolden Freeway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Veterans Memorial Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Highway 160 West | 2 mi | 3m |
| Tega Cay Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| University Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Tega Cay, SC and Goose Creek, SC.
Start on Point Clear Drive
Enter roundabout onto Windward Drive
Continue on Windward Drive
Turn right onto Tega Cay Drive
Continue on Gold Hill Road
Turn right onto Hubert Graham Way
Enter roundabout onto Stonecrest Boulevard
Continue on Stonecrest Boulevard
Turn right onto SC 160
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 77
Continue on I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
Continue on I 77
Continue on I 77
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 26
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 78
Continue on Goose Creek Road
Continue on Goose Creek Road
Continue on Old State Road
Continue on Old State Road
Turn left onto The Oaks Avenue
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 40 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.8 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goose Creek, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Tega Cay, 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 Tega Cay, SC
This is one driving day of about 183.6 miles and 3h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.8 mi from Tega Cay, SC · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 91.8 miles from Tega Cay, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.8 miles.
The final approach into Goose Creek, 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 Goose Creek, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Near the end, ~12 min detour
North Charleston, South Carolina
Hours: 8:30 am–2 pm
+18433679070
Near the end, ~9 min detour
Ladson, South Carolina
Hours: 9 am–3 pm
+18437894743
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Cayce, South Carolina
Hours: 7 am–5 pm
+18037641044
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Tega Cay, South Carolina
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+18446778889
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Harleyville, South Carolina
Hours: 9 am–5 pm
+18434879988
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Columbia, South Carolina
Hours: 7 am–9 pm
+18037338596
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Cayce, South Carolina
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~10 min detour
Cayce, South Carolina
Hours: 11 am–10:30 pm
+18036022433
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Regular Gas
$28.71 one way
$57.42 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.39 | $62.79 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.98 | $67.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.54 | $81.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.1 | 0 | $19.28 | $8.81 |
| Efficient EV | 45.9 | 0 | $16.06 | $7.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.4 | 0 | $25.70 | $11.75 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Tega Cay on Friday
Local time
3:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Goose Creek on Friday
Local time
3:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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