How far is Florence, SC from Folly Beach, SC?

The driving distance from Florence, SC to Folly Beach, SC is about 144 miles (231.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 106.9 miles (172.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
144.04 mi
02h 52m
Flight
106.91 mi
172.06 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Florence.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
106.91 mi
Kilometers
172.06 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
144.04 mi
Kilometers
231.81 km
Drive Time
02h 52m

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 02h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Folly Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 5:11 AM EDT
Return by in Florence
Sat, Apr 18, 8:04 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Florence
2026-04-18T02:19
Arrive Folly Beach
Sat, Apr 18, 5:11 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Florence
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Santee
SC

City in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States of America

From Florence
72.1 mi
01h 26m
To Folly Beach
72 mi
01h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
94°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SW
Destination
73°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Florence and Folly Beach.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Florence and Folly Beach.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    15 m · 9 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    40 m · 15 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto East Cheves Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · East Cheves Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Warley Street

    644 ft · 18 sec · Warley Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto West Evans Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · West Evans Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West David H McLeod Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West David H McLeod Boulevard

  7. 7

    Continue on J Strom Thurmond Freeway

    2811 ft · 54 sec · J Strom Thurmond Freeway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah

    1496 ft · 37 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    74.8 mi · 1 hr 20 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East: Charleston

    1806 ft · 51 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    52.3 mi · 1 hr

  12. 12

    Continue on Crosstown

    2831 ft · 1 min · Crosstown

  13. 13

    Continue on Septima P. Clark Parkway

    550 ft · 16 sec · Septima P. Clark Parkway

  14. 14

    Continue on Spring Street

    550 ft · 14 sec · Spring Street

  15. 15

    Continue on Spring Street

    1116 ft · 21 sec · Spring Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Lockwood Drive

    653 ft · 26 sec · Lockwood Drive

  17. 17

    Take the ramp straight toward SC 30: James Island, Folly Beach

    1689 ft · 41 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto James Island Expressway

    2.6 mi · 4 min · James Island Expressway

  19. 19

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Folly Road

    6.7 mi · 13 min · Folly Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Center Street

    2010 ft · 1 min · Center Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto East Arctic Avenue

    20 m · 2 sec · East Arctic Avenue

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Arctic Avenue

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Florence and Folly Beach.

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
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
75.1 mi · 52%
I 26 East
52.7 mi · 37%
Folly Road
6.73 mi · 5%
James Island Expressway
2.57 mi · 2%
West Evans Street
2.35 mi · 2%
West David H McLeod Boulevard
1.46 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

74.8 mi · 01h 20m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 52m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.1 mi
106.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santee
01h 26m from Florence
Leave By
12:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Florence and Mostly Sunny near Folly Beach.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Florence to Folly Beach?

The road trip is about 144 miles (231.8 km) and usually takes 02h 52m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Santee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 72.1 miles from Florence and 72 miles from Folly Beach.

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

The direct path is about 106.9 miles (172.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.1 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.12 one way or $40.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 45.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Florence and Mostly Sunny near Folly Beach.

Stop Ideas Near Santee

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Santee, 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 Santee.

RAIL

Denmark

63 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Kingstree

64 mi away
101 East Main St.
RAIL

Columbia

77 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

81 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Florence and Folly Beach. Straight-line distance: 106.91 mi (172.06 km).

Florence

#1 Florence

Civil town in Florence County, Wisconsin

Population38,467
Coordinates34.1954300, -79.7625600
Altitude42
CountryUnited States
Folly Beach

#2 Folly Beach

City in South Carolina, United States

Population2,682
Coordinates32.6551800, -79.9403700
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Florence (-79.76256, 34.19543)
End: Folly Beach (-79.94037, 32.65518)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 232 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 36m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 52m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 24m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.08 gal
19.24 L · about $20.12
Round trip
$40.24
10.16 gal · 38.48 L
Estimated CO2
45.1 kg one way
Round trip: 90.3 kg / 199 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $20.12 $40.24
Mid-grade $4.43 $22.50 $45.00
Premium $4.78 $24.27 $48.54
Diesel $5.62 $28.57 $57.14

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Florence and Folly Beach. The current time is 02:19:08.

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.