Congaree National Park
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...
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Create accountDrive Time
3h 48m
Distance
199.9 mi
322 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
23 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Travelers Rest, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Summerville, SC
Colon Freld
The drive from Travelers Rest, SC to Summerville, SC covers 199.9 miles and takes about 3h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 26, Golden Strip Freeway, I 385 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 146.7 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.99 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
100 miles from Travelers Rest, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
This is a 3h 48m highway drive covering 199.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 146.7 miles on I 26.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and Golden Strip Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 276 / Poinsett Highway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 199.9 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 1.3 miles (US 276 / Poinsett Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip 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.
Keep slight left at fork onto US 276 / Poinsett Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left toward I 385 South: Columbia
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 17 Alternate South: Summerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Travelers Rest, SC to Summerville, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 146.7 mi | 2h 40m |
| Golden Strip Freeway | 31.6 mi | 34m |
| I 385 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Poinsett Highway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| North Pleasantburg Drive | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| North Main Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| State Park Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Travelers Rest, SC and Summerville, SC.
Start on Center Street
Turn left onto US 276
Keep slight left at fork onto US 276
Turn left onto SC 253
Continue on SC 291
Continue on SC 291
Turn left
Merge onto I 385
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
Merge onto I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 17 Alternate
Turn left onto East Richardson Avenue
Turn right
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Travelers Rest, 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 Travelers Rest, SC
This is one driving day of about 199.9 miles and 3h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100 mi from Travelers Rest, SC · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 100 miles from Travelers Rest, 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 146.7 miles.
The final approach into Summerville, 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 Summerville, SC.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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
$31.99 one way
$63.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $34.86 | $69.71 |
| premium | $4.78 | $37.60 | $75.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $44.41 | $88.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
EV Charging Along Route
23 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Cracker Barrel - Tesla Supercharger
Greenville, SC
16 DCFC
The Gallery - Tesla Supercharger
Greenville, SC
12 DCFC
Hilton Garden Inn Greenville - Tesla Supercharger
Greenville, SC
8 DCFC
Target Greenville #T1182
Greenville, SC
6 DCFC
Greenville, SC
Greenville, SC
6 DCFC
Fairway Ford - 2323 Laurens Rd - DCFC
Greenville, SC
4 DCFC
Sam's Club 8278 (Greenville, SC)
Greenville, SC
4 DCFC
CircleK - Greenville
Mauldin, SC
4 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60 | 0 | $20.99 | $9.60 |
| Efficient EV | 50 | 0 | $17.49 | $8.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80 | 0 | $27.99 | $12.79 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Travelers Rest on Monday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Summerville on Monday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°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.
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Return Trip
Summerville, SC to Travelers Rest, SCPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Travelers Rest, SC or browse trips ending in Summerville, SC.
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