How far is Socastee, SC from Aiken, SC?

The driving distance from Socastee, SC to Aiken, SC is about 204 miles (328.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 55m 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
203.99 mi
03h 27m
Flight
156.79 mi
252.33 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Socastee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
156.79 mi
Kilometers
252.33 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
203.99 mi
Kilometers
328.29 km
Drive Time
03h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aiken
Thu, Apr 23, 11:38 AM EDT
Return by in Socastee
Thu, Apr 23, 3:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Socastee
2026-04-23T08:10
Arrive Aiken
Thu, Apr 23, 11:38 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 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
10:04 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Socastee
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
Bishopville
SC

City in Lee County, South Carolina

From Socastee
98.9 mi
01h 43m
To Aiken
105.1 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Socastee Weather
SC
Live fallback forecast
57°F
Overnight
Using Red Hill as the closest live forecast in the Horry County weather hub.

Clear

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
89°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Socastee and Aiken.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Socastee and Aiken.

  1. 1

    Start on River Road

    75 m · 12 sec · River Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Socastee Boulevard

    716 ft · 18 sec · Socastee Boulevard

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Dick Pond Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Dick Pond Road

  4. 4

    Turn right

    7.7 mi · 14 min

  5. 5

    Turn sharp left onto West Cox Ferry Road

    134 m · 13 sec · West Cox Ferry Road

  6. 6

    Turn right

    1216 ft · 32 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Highway 501 East

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Highway 501 East

  8. 8

    Continue on Church Street

    31.2 mi · 39 min · Church Street

  9. 9

    Turn straight

    3.2 mi · 4 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    6.7 mi · 8 min

  11. 11

    Continue straight

    12.1 mi · 17 min

  12. 12

    Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street

    1.7 mi · 4 min · East Cheves Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Warley Street

    644 ft · 18 sec · Warley Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West Evans Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · West Evans Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto West David H McLeod Boulevard

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West David H McLeod Boulevard

  16. 16

    Continue on J Strom Thurmond Freeway

    119.5 mi · 2 hr 14 min · J Strom Thurmond Freeway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 1: Aiken

    1790 ft · 44 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto Columbia Highway North

    6 mi · 7 min · Columbia Highway North

  19. 19

    Continue on York Street Northeast

    2.1 mi · 3 min · York Street Northeast

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Richland Avenue East

    113 m · 8 sec · Richland Avenue East

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Chesterfield Street South

    72 m · 13 sec · Chesterfield Street South

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Chesterfield Street South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Socastee and Aiken.

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
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
120 mi · 59%
Church Street
49.9 mi · 24%
Columbia Highway North
5.99 mi · 3%
West Evans Street
2.35 mi · 1%
York Street Northeast
2.12 mi · 1%
East Cheves Street
1.74 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

J Strom Thurmond Freeway

Continue on J Strom Thurmond Freeway

120 mi · 02h 14m

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 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+47.2 mi
156.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bishopville
01h 43m from Socastee
Leave By
10:04 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Socastee and Sunny near Aiken.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Socastee to Aiken?

The road trip is about 204 miles (328.3 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?

Bishopville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.9 miles from Socastee and 105.1 miles from Aiken.

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

The direct path is about 156.8 miles (252.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.2 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 10:04 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.52 one way or $57.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Socastee and Sunny near Aiken.

Stop Ideas Near Bishopville

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

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

RAIL

Camden

35 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Florence

45 mi away
805 East Day Street
RAIL

Kingstree

73 mi away
101 East Main St.
RAIL

Columbia

77 mi away
850 Pulaski Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Socastee and Aiken. Straight-line distance: 156.79 mi (252.33 km).

Socastee

#1 Socastee

Census-designated place in Horry County, South Carolina

Population19,952
Coordinates33.6835000, -78.9983700
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Aiken

#2 Aiken

City in South Carolina, United States

Population31,121
Coordinates33.5604200, -81.7195500
Altitude157
CountryUnited States
Start: River Road (-78.998455, 33.683499)
End: Chesterfield Street South (-81.719543, 33.560418)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 328 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 54m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.2 gal
27.25 L · about $28.52
Round trip
$57.04
14.4 gal · 54.5 L
Estimated CO2
64 kg one way
Round trip: 128 kg / 282 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $28.52 $57.04
Mid-grade $4.43 $31.89 $63.78
Premium $4.78 $34.40 $68.80
Diesel $5.62 $40.49 $80.99

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Socastee and Aiken. The current time is 08:10:52.

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.