Charleston to Greenville SC drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Charleston to Greenville SC is 213 miles, with a 3h18m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Charleston to Greenville SC drive are the UFO Welcome Center, Columbia SC and Clinton SC.
Planning to Charleston to Greenville SC road trip itinerary
The Charleston to Greenville drive connects two of the biggest cities in South Carolina.
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.
Greenville SC is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. It strikes a nice balance between outdoorsiness, culture and decadence. Falls Park on the Reedy brings cascades near the city center. The Upcountry History Museum covers regional history. And the Roper Mountain Science Center has a planetarium, dinosaur adventure trail, butterfly garden and a living history farm.
Enjoyable Greenville experiences include craft cocktail tours, Segway adventures, paranormal walking tours and dessert-themed foodie tours.
Great Greenville accommodation choices include the spacious SpringHill Suites and the charming Pettigru Place Bed and Breakfast.
Charleston to Greenville SC distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Charleston to Greenville SC is 213 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours and 18 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-26 and I-385.
The best stops to add to a Charleston to Greenville SC road trip itinerary are the UFO Welcome Center, Columbia SC and Clinton SC.
Charleston to Greenville SC road trip attractions: UFO Welcome Center
In Bowman SC, the UFO Welcome Center is a classic roadside oddity. It’s an entirely home-made affair, put together with scrap metal and other assorted junk. It consists of two habitable flying saucers created by local resident Jody Pendarvis. The idea is that when aliens pay a visit, they’ll make them fly with special alien technology and take off to a faraway galaxy.
Best stops between Charleston and Greenville 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, but 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.
Charleston to Greenville SC drive: Clinton SC
The Millers Fork Trail in Clinton SC is just off the I-26, and is short enough to be a handy journey-breaker. The mile-long, naturally-surfaced trail follows the Millers Fork stream through the forest, with a small series of cascades being the highlight. The Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site and Battle of Musgrove Mill State Historic Site are also nearby.
More Charleston road trips
Asheville to Charleston | Atlanta to Charleston SC | Augusta to Charleston | Charlotte to Charleston | Jacksonville to Charleston.
More Greenville SC road trips
Greenville SC to Asheville | Greenville SC to Atlanta | Augusta GA to Greenville SC | Boston to Greenville SC | Charlotte to Greenville | Greensboro NC to Greenville SC | Greenville to Myrtle Beach | Nashville to Greenville SC | Raleigh to Greenville | Greenville SC to Wilmington NC.