How far is Northlake, SC from Charleston, SC?

The driving distance from Northlake, SC to Charleston, SC is about 226.6 miles (364.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 200.9 miles (323.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EST.
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
226.6 mi
03h 46m
Flight
200.86 mi
323.25 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Northlake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
200.86 mi
Kilometers
323.25 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
226.6 mi
Kilometers
364.68 km
Drive Time
03h 46m

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 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charleston
Sat, Nov 7, 4:35 PM EST
Return by in Northlake
Sat, Nov 7, 8:22 PM EST
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Northlake
2026-11-07T12:48
Arrive Charleston
Sat, Nov 7, 4:35 PM EST
Route Timing
03h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EST
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM EST

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

Leave by
9:26 AM EST
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Northlake
9:00 PM EST
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
West Columbia
SC

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

From Northlake
113.2 mi
01h 53m
To Charleston
113.5 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
1 to 5 mph N
Destination
71°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Nov 7 6:00 AM EST
Wind
6 to 9 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Edgewater Way

    797 ft · 38 sec · Edgewater Way

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Liberty Highway

    1.5 km · 2 min · Liberty Highway

  3. 3

    Take the exit slight right

    1927 ft · 47 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    10.6 mi · 12 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 8: Pelzer, Easley

    1671 ft · 36 sec

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Easley Highway

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Easley Highway

  7. 7

    Continue on Main Street

    1 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Lebby Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Lebby Street

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 8 East

    3.7 mi · 6 min · Highway 8 East

  10. 10

    Continue on Highway 418

    9.9 mi · 14 min · Highway 418

  11. 11

    Continue on Milacron Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Milacron Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on McCarter Road

    940 ft · 20 sec · McCarter Road

  13. 13

    Take the ramp right

    1748 ft · 43 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Golden Strip Freeway

    22.9 mi · 25 min · Golden Strip Freeway

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

    112.5 mi · 2 hr 6 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight left toward Meeting Street, Visitor Center, Downtown

    1994 ft · 53 sec

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Meeting Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Meeting Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    12 m · 1 sec · Broad Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Broad Street

Car Route Details

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

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
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden Strip Freeway
191 mi · 84%
Liberty Highway
11.9 mi · 5%
Highway 418
9.91 mi · 4%
Highway 8 East
3.74 mi · 2%
Easley Highway
3.59 mi · 2%
Meeting Street
1.95 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Golden Strip Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

113 mi · 02h 06m

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 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.7 mi
200.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
West Columbia
01h 53m from Northlake
Leave By
9:26 AM EST
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Northlake and Mostly Sunny near Charleston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 226.6 miles (364.7 km) and usually takes 03h 46m 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?

West Columbia is a useful midpoint, sitting about 113.2 miles from Northlake and 113.5 miles from Charleston.

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

The direct path is about 200.9 miles (323.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.7 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 EST. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:26 AM EST.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.54 one way or $57.09 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near West Columbia

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

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

RAIL

Columbia

3 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Camden

50 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Denmark

74 mi away
200 West Baruch Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Northlake and Charleston. Straight-line distance: 200.86 mi (323.25 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Northlake

Northlake is a place in South Carolina, United States.

Population0
Coordinates34.5662200, -82.6840200
Altitude201
CountryUnited States
Charleston

#2 Charleston

The most populous city in South Carolina.

Population139,714
Coordinates32.7765700, -79.9309200
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Edgewater Way (-82.686261, 34.565276)
End: Broad Street (-79.930909, 32.776494)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 365 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 31m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 46m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8 gal
30.27 L · about $28.54
Round trip
$57.09
16 gal · 60.54 L
Estimated CO2
71.1 kg one way
Round trip: 142.2 kg / 313 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.57 $28.54 $57.09
Mid-grade $4.01 $32.11 $64.22
Premium $4.42 $35.38 $70.75
Diesel $5.69 $45.54 $91.09

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 · Nov 07, 2026

There is no time difference between Northlake and Charleston. The current time is 12:48:19.

Distance to Other Cities

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