Trip from Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

48.6 mi

78 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min

4 AM

1h 3m ★

6 AM

1h 9m

8 AM

1h 20m

10 AM

1h 13m

12 PM

1h 12m

3 PM

1h 13m

5 PM

1h 19m

8 PM

1h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Traveling from Walterboro to Charleston covers 48.6 miles and takes approximately 1 hour and 8 minutes. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of South Carolina, you will experience a consistent regional atmosphere throughout your journey. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as the modest duration makes an overnight stay unnecessary. With a fuel budget of just $8, it is an incredibly cost-effective way to transition from the inland plains to the coast. You will navigate primarily via Hampton Street, Charleston Highway, and Ace Basin Parkway, keeping the drive straightforward and manageable.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

24.3 miles from Walterboro, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 34m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route contains zero highway miles. You will navigate through local roads, with Hampton Street serving as the initial leg of your journey before transitioning onto the Charleston Highway and Ace Basin Parkway. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on Hampton Street is 0 miles, you should be prepared for frequent turns and steady attention to the road. This character makes for a more engaged driving experience compared to a monotonous freeway cruise. The lack of highway segments ensures you remain on local thoroughfares for the entirety of the 48.6-mile trip.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Hampton Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 8m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Hampton Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Charleston Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Ace Basin Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Savannah Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Lockwood Drive	Unavailable	Refreshing
Broad Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Hampton Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Walterboro, SC and Charleston, SC.

1

Start on the route

226 ft · 6 sec · the route

2

Continue straight

0.2 mi · 30 sec

3

Turn left onto Hampton Street

3.0 mi · 5 min · Hampton Street

4

Continue on Charleston Highway

13 mi · 22 min · Charleston Highway

5

At the end of the road, turn left onto Ace Basin Parkway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Ace Basin Parkway

6

Continue on Savannah Highway

30 mi · 43 min · Savannah Highway

7

Take the exit slight right

443 ft · 12 sec

8

Keep slight right

0.1 mi · 15 sec

9

Turn straight onto Lockwood Drive

0.9 mi · 2 min · Lockwood Drive

10

Continue on Broad Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Broad Street

11

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. You will not need to worry about planning for intermediate stops because the duration is just over an hour. Keep in mind that because the route consists entirely of local roads, travel times can fluctuate based on local traffic patterns. Budgeting $8 for fuel should be more than enough for a round trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert for the transition between Hampton Street and the Ace Basin Parkway, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full focus from the moment you leave Walterboro.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 24.3 miles from Walterboro, SC, or about 34m into the drive.

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 48.6 miles or 1h 8m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 24.3 miles or 34m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Walterboro, 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 Walterboro, SC

This is one driving day of about 48.6 miles and 1h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Walterboro, SC.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.3 mi from Walterboro, SC · 34m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

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

Mount Pleasant, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charlotte, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Walterboro, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Charleston, SC

The final approach into Charleston, 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 Charleston, 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

$7.78 one way

$15.56 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$8.47	$16.95
premium	$4.78	$9.14	$18.28
diesel	$5.64	$10.80	$21.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	14.6	$5.10	$2.33
Efficient EV	12.2	$4.25	$1.94
EV Truck/SUV	19.4	$6.80	$3.11

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Walterboro, SC

Evening in Walterboro on Sunday

Local time

6:49 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Charleston, SC

Evening in Charleston on Sunday

Local time

6:49 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°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

6 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 8m 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 Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC covers 48.6 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Hampton Street, Charleston Highway, Ace Basin Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 24.3 miles from Walterboro, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.78 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 Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC is easy. At 1h 8m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Walterboro, SC to Charleston, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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