Asheville to Charleston road trip: Drive time, distance & best stops

The best road trip stops on the Asheville to Charleston drive are Spartanburg SC, Columbia SC and Orangeburg SC. By car, the distance from Asheville to Charleston is 268 miles, with a 4h driving time.

Planning an Asheville to Charleston road trip itinerary

The Asheville to Charleston drive takes you from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina to the South Carolina coast.

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville NC is one of the main gateways to the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is one of America’s best road trip routes.

But there’s more to Asheville than the mountains. It’s a buzzy city of arty shops, restaurants, breweries and live music venues. The River Arts District is particularly strong on the studios and galleries front. The lavish Biltmore Estate, meanwhile, is the country’s biggest privately-owned home.

Top Asheville experiences include after dark ghost walks, Blue Ridge Parkway hiking tours and Jeep adventures, plus Segway tours and scenic helicopter rides.              

You can also do guided e-bike tours either downtown or in the mountains, then take a guided visit to several craft breweries.

Charleston SC is one of the most attractive historic cities in the South.

Highlights of a visit include plantation tours – take your pick from the Boone Plantation and the Magnolia Plantation. Most visitors will also take the ferry to Fort Sumter, where the American Civil War started.

Other classic Charleston activities include a horse and carriage tour, history cruises on the harbor and night-time ghost walks.

For less conventional options, try a dinner cruise with live music, a Downtown food tour and a speakeasy cocktail-making class.

Asheville to Charleston distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Asheville NC to Charleston SC is 268 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours. The quickest route is mainly down the I-26.

The best stops to add to an Asheville to Charleston road trip itinerary are Spartanburg SC, Columbia SC and Orangeburg SC.

Asheville NC to Charleston SC road trip attractions: Spartanburg SC

Spartanburg SC is home to the Hub City Railroad Museum, inside the historic Southern Railway Spartanburg Union Depot. Here, you can watch passing trains from the observation deck and learn about the role of the railroads in South Carolina’s peach and textiles industries.

The city is also home to the BMW Zentrum Museum, at the BMW manufacturing plant. This offers a mixture of company history and classic cars. Otherwise, Spartanburg is a place of parks, with the Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve being the highlight.

For Spartanburg accommodation deals, check here.

Best stops between Asheville NC and Charleston SC: Columbia SC

Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina. Top attractions include the South Carolina State Museum, which looks at the rich history of the state. It does so in a surprisingly fun way, with a digital planetarium and 4D theater.

But the city’s real appeal is in the numerous parks along the Broad River. These include the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.

For well-rated Columbia accommodation options, try the academia-themed Graduate and the characterful Hotel Trundle.

• For more suggestions, see the guide to the Asheville to Columbia SC drive.

Asheville NC to Charleston SC drive: Orangeburg SC

Orangeburg bills itself as the Garden City, and it comes as no surprise to learn that gardens are the highlights here. Top billing goes to the Edisto Memorial Gardens, which have been tended since the 1920s. There are more than 4,800 roses, from more than 120 different varieties, on display here.

For wildlife as well, try the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens. For a slightly bizarre combination of art and space, head to the I.P. Stanbeck Museum and Planetarium.

More Asheville NC road trips

Augusta GA to Asheville NC | Charlotte to Asheville | Chicago to Asheville | Columbia SC to Asheville | Durham NC to Asheville | Asheville to Gatlinburg | Greensboro to Asheville | Greenville SC to Asheville | Asheville to Myrtle Beach | Asheville to Orlando | Asheville to Pigeon Forge | Raleigh NC to Asheville | Richmond VA to Asheville NC | Roanoke to Asheville | Asheville to Sevierville | Asheville to Tampa | Washington DC to Asheville | Asheville to Wilmington NC | Winston-Salem to Asheville.

More Charleston road trips

Atlanta to Charleston SC | Augusta to Charleston | Charlotte to Charleston | Charleston to Greenville SC | Jacksonville to Charleston.