How far is Charleston, SC from Catawba, SC?

The driving distance from Charleston, SC to Catawba, SC is about 185.7 miles (298.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 154.1 miles (248 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
185.71 mi
03h 35m
Flight
154.1 mi
248 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
154.1 mi
Kilometers
248 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
185.71 mi
Kilometers
298.87 km
Drive Time
03h 35m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Catawba
Mon, Apr 13, 3:14 PM EDT
Return by in Charleston
Mon, Apr 13, 6:50 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charleston
2026-04-13T11:38
Arrive Catawba
Mon, Apr 13, 3:14 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:36 AM to 11:36 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:48 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charleston
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Swansea
SC

Town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States

From Charleston
93 mi
01h 47m
To Catawba
92.8 mi
01h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Monday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph S
Destination
82°F
Monday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 13 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charleston and Catawba.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston and Catawba.

  1. 1

    Start on Broad Street

    12 m · 5 sec · Broad Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Meeting Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Meeting Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Calhoun Street

    689 ft · 15 sec · Calhoun Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto King Street

    3052 ft · 1 min · King Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Spring Street

    853 ft · 30 sec · Spring Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Coming Street

    1144 ft · 31 sec · Coming Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Septima Clark Expressway

    3078 ft · 1 min · Septima Clark Expressway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left

    108.9 mi · 2 hr

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1 North: West Columbia

    1062 ft · 26 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Augusta Road

    2930 ft · 42 sec · Augusta Road

  11. 11

    Turn straight onto Jarvis Klapman Boulevard

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Jarvis Klapman Boulevard

  12. 12

    Continue on Hampton Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Hampton Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Bull Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Bull Street

  14. 14

    Continue on I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Charles F Bolden Freeway

    53.3 mi · 57 min · Charles F Bolden Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 901: Rock Hill, York

    1303 ft · 32 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on SC 901 South: Edgemoor

    45 m · 4 sec

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto Mount Holly Road

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Mount Holly Road

  19. 19

    Turn slight left onto Collins Road

    1843 ft · 51 sec · Collins Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Hall Spencer Road

    3.5 mi · 7 min · Hall Spencer Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto South Anderson Road

    1011 ft · 23 sec · South Anderson Road

  22. 22

    Continue on South Anderson Road

    1132 ft · 27 sec · South Anderson Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Hall Spencer Road

    1.2 km · 2 min · Hall Spencer Road

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Cureton Ferry Road

    3031 ft · 1 min · Cureton Ferry Road

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Cureton Ferry Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charleston and Catawba.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Septima Clark Expressway
109 mi · 59%
Charles F Bolden Freeway
53.3 mi · 29%
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
7.59 mi · 4%
Hall Spencer Road
4.22 mi · 2%
Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
2.67 mi · 1%
Mount Holly Road
1.57 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Septima Clark Expressway

Keep slight left

109 mi · 02h 00m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.6 mi
154.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Swansea
01h 47m from Charleston
Leave By
9:48 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Charleston and Partly Sunny near Catawba.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charleston to Catawba?

The road trip is about 185.7 miles (298.9 km) and usually takes 03h 35m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Swansea is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93 miles from Charleston and 92.8 miles from Catawba.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 154.1 miles (248 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:48 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.94 one way or $51.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Charleston and Partly Sunny near Catawba.

Stop Ideas Near Swansea

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Swansea, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Swansea.

RAIL

Columbia

29 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Denmark

46 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Camden

71 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Kingstree

118 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charleston and Catawba. Straight-line distance: 154.1 mi (248 km).

Charleston

#1 Charleston

The most populous city in South Carolina.

Population139,714
Coordinates32.7765700, -79.9309200
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Catawba

Catawba is a place in South Carolina, United States.

Population0
Coordinates34.8529200, -80.9111900
Altitude174
CountryUnited States
Start: Charleston (-79.93092, 32.77657)
End: Catawba (-80.91119, 34.85292)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 299 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.55 gal
24.81 L · about $25.94
Round trip
$51.89
13.1 gal · 49.62 L
Estimated CO2
58.2 kg one way
Round trip: 116.4 kg / 257 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.94 $51.89
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.01 $58.02
Premium $4.78 $31.30 $62.59
Diesel $5.62 $36.84 $73.67

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in South Carolina · Apr 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Charleston and Catawba. The current time is 11:38:24.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.