Origin
Union, SC
Afternoon in Union on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union, SC to Spartanburg, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
39m
Distance
26.1 mi
42 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union, SC
Sebastián Casimiro
Spartanburg, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Union to Spartanburg, you are looking at a brief 26.1-mile journey that typically takes about 39 minutes to complete. This is a straightforward route through the Southeast that functions perfectly as a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stops. Budgeting approximately $4 for fuel will cover your transit across these South Carolina locales. You will primarily navigate via the Furman L Fendley Highway, the Highway 176 Bypass, and South Pine Street. Because the drive is so short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to easily manage your departure and arrival times without the fatigue associated with longer hauls.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 26.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. The route features a highway share of only 9%, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time on local roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 12.2 miles spent on the Furman L Fendley Highway. As you transition from the quiet of Union toward the busier streets of Spartanburg, the road conditions shift from open local stretches to the more congested flow of the Highway 176 Bypass and South Pine Street. It is a technical, active drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Furman L Fendley Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
805 ft
587 ft
Total Climb
420 ft
Total Descent
256 ft
Highest Point
805 ft
~26.1 mi in
Elevation Range
217 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near US 176; SC 18 Truck / North Duncan Bypass.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (US 176; SC 18 Truck / North Duncan Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (Forest Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.2 miles (SC 56 / Union Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 176; SC 18 Truck / North Duncan Bypass
Turn right onto US 176; SC 18 Truck / North Duncan Bypass
Navigation decision point
6
24.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
Forest Avenue
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
24.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
SC 56 / Union Street
Turn right onto SC 56 / Union Street
Navigation decision point
4
25.5 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
SC 56 / East Henry Street
Turn left onto SC 56 / East Henry Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
25.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
US 221; SC 56 / South Church Street
Turn right onto US 221; SC 56 / South Church Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Furman L Fendley Highway | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| South Pine Street | 7 mi | 10m |
| Highway 176 Bypass | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Union Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Thompson Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Duncan Bypass | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Henry Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harwood Heights | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Furman L Fendley Highway
— 12.2 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, SC and Spartanburg, SC.
1
Start on SC 18
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
North Pinckney Street
2
Turn slight left onto SC 18
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Thompson Boulevard
3
Turn slight left onto SC 215
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Harwood Heights
4
Turn right onto US 176; SC 18 Truck
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Duncan Bypass
5
Continue on US 176
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Furman L Fendley Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 176
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 176 Bypass
7
Continue on US 176
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
South Pine Street
8
Turn left onto Forest Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Forest Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto SC 56
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Union Street
10
Turn left onto SC 56
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Henry Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto US 221; SC 56
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
South Church Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 221; SC 56
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.1 mi from Union, SC · 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
13 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 26.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.1 miles from Union, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Spartanburg, SC
The final approach into Spartanburg, 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 Spartanburg, 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
$4.08 one way
$8.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.46 | $8.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.83 | $9.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.76 | $11.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| Efficient EV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Spartanburg, SC
Afternoon in Spartanburg on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
39m 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 Union, SC to Spartanburg, SC covers 26.1 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Furman L Fendley Highway, South Pine Street, Highway 176 Bypass. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.1 miles from Union, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.08 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 is a straightforward 39m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (US 176; SC 18 Truck / North Duncan Bypass): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles (Forest Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.2 miles (SC 56 / Union Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Union, SC to Spartanburg, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Spartanburg, SC
More from Union, SC
More trips to Spartanburg, SC
Explore more options from Union, SC or browse trips ending in Spartanburg, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.