Best route from Charleston, SC to Destin, FL

Using google maps, Charleston to Waycross via 17/95/84 is 222 miles. Going through Garnett and catching 119 makes the same 222 miles so no distance added though time will be.

I know 119 runs through the heart of Ft Stewart. Did confirm that it is still a public road and usually accessible as such. But it does mean you will need to go through a security gate and probably your RV through an x-ray machine (I do this from time to time with my TC, no biggie). Plus you may have to deal with slow moving convoys, troops, etc. which could slow you down further. Though it would let you see a something a lot of folks in the US don't see. Of course, if you are retired military with id, you are familiar with the process.

You can easily avoid Ft Stewart by turning right on 280 at Pembroke, then left on 301 at Claxton(or 250 before Claxton). This only adds 7 miles but will be quicker and my recommended route after remembering about Ft Stewart.

On thing about southern GA, most of the through roads are very nice to travel on. Last year, DW and I visited every state park and most counties in GA south of Vidalia. Don't really remember a bad major road.

An alternative would be to follow this map to General Coffee SP. From the SP, turn right out over to Douglas and catch 31 down to 84.

kohldad wrote:
I like fla-gypsy route pretty well. 84 through GA is almost like interstate except without the traffic and only a few traffic lights. Recently traveled 84 cross most of GA and was surprised at how many miles of open road there was.

I can get you off I-95 for those miles in SC if you want to take some country back roads. Not quick traveling, but nice if you enjoy the slow way. They are in pretty good shape and I've traveled most of them before. Where 17 joins I95, get on the frontage road down to Morgan Dollar Rd, right on 278, left on 462, right on321, the finally left on 119. Basically, Coosewatchie to Garnett. 119 runs down through Ft Stewart in GA and you can pick up 84 in Hinesville, GA.

Down near Waycross, GA you could take a few mile detour over to Laura S Walker state park for a relaxing night or two. This would be about 228 miles from Charleston, so an easy day. Will actually recommend any of the GA state parks.

Any idea how many miles the detour around I-95 would add? Thanks for that detail BTW. I love traveling the less crowded loads and loathe Interstate highways. My wife has become a pretty good navigator with a map once she figures out which way north is. LOL

I like fla-gypsy route pretty well. 84 through GA is almost like interstate except without the traffic and only a few traffic lights. Recently traveled 84 cross most of GA and was surprised at how many miles of open road there was.

I can get you off I-95 for those miles in SC if you want to take some country back roads. Not quick traveling, but nice if you enjoy the slow way. They are in pretty good shape and I've traveled most of them before. Where 17 joins I95, get on the frontage road down to Morgan Dollar Rd, right on 278, left on 462, right on321, the finally left on 119. Basically, Coosewatchie to Garnett. 119 runs down through Ft Stewart in GA and you can pick up 84 in Hinesville, GA.

Down near Waycross, GA you could take a few mile detour over to Laura S Walker state park for a relaxing night or two. This would be about 228 miles from Charleston, so an easy day. Will actually recommend any of the GA state parks.

I would go 95 to 10. I think you will find that is the shortest.

You will need to do a few miles on I-95 but the rest of the trip is Interstate free. If it were me, I would take US 17 south to I-95. South on I-95 to US 84. US 84 west to US 319. US 319 south to FL SR 20. SR 20 west to US 331. US 331 south to US 98. US 98 west into Destin Fl. I love the US highway system. Pleasant travels

Good luck not using some interstates. South of Savannah you could take 38... Hinesville /Waycross/Thomasville and then drop down to Tallahassee and 20 to near Destin.