Interstate 385 North - Clinton to Fountain Inn



The first reassurance marker for I-385 appears as the freeway crosses over the eastbound lanes of I-26.
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The city of Laurens, seat of Laurens County, lies nines miles to the southwest of Interstate 385 along S.C. 14 (old U.S. 276). Downtown Greenville is 43 miles to the north.
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The South Carolina General Assembly passed legislation on March 19, 2003 naming I-385 through Laurens County the Veterans Memorial Highway. The name honors veterans of the county.1
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A parclo interchange (Exit 2) links I-385 with S.C. 308 three miles north of Clinton. S.C. 308 extends north from Exit 2 another eight miles to U.S. 221 at the settlement of Ora.
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Interstate 385 traverses a series of hills rising to 650 feet above sea level on the northwesterly turn from S.C. 308.
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Proceeding northward, Laurens is seven miles away via the next exit and I-385 reaches Greenville in 41 miles.
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Frontage roads connect local roads severed by construction of the freeway originally built for U.S. 276 just east the diamond interchange (Exit 5) with S.C. 49.
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A rarity on the Interstate system, a forthcoming left side rest area services both directions of I-385 within the freeway median beyond Exit 5.
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S.C. 49 is part of a multi state route that begins at U.S. 221 in Wattsville and concludes in southern Virginia. S.C. 49 travels 79.49 miles northeast to Cross Anchor, Union, York and Lake Wylie.
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I-385 parallels Duncan Creek to the south as the roadways separate to accommodate the left side rest area.
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19,200 vehicles per day (vpd) were recorded by SCDOT on the stretch between Exits 5 and 9 in 2014 and 22,400 vpd in 2020.
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U.S. 221 crosses paths with I-385 at a folded diamond interchange (Exit 9) north of Laurens and south of Ora. A number of industrial businesses, including distribution centers for Michelin Tires and Wal-mart, are located nearby. As a result, ramps joining I-385 with U.S. 221 were improved.
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Leading south from Exit 9, U.S. 221 travels through the heart of Laurens along Harper Street, intersecting U.S. 76 Business (Main Street) at Downtown. Northward U.S. 221 travels 7.8 miles to the community of Enoree and 14.3 miles to Woodruff.
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S.C. 14 runs northwest from Laurens to Gray Court along the former alignment of U.S. 276. S.C. 101 joins I-385 with the town in six miles. Greenville is around a half hour away.
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Metric Road (Road 23) meanders 1.40 miles west from U.S. 221 to meet Interstate 385 at a parclo B2 interchange (Exit 10) in one half mile.
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The second guide sign for Metric Road (Road 23) was taken down by late 2013. Beyond Exit 10, Metric Road continues 3.49 miles west to S.C. 14 at Barksdale.
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Interstate 385 advances five miles north to a diamond interchange (Exit 16) with S.C. 101 outside Gray Court. Greenville is 32 miles to the north.
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The freeway lowers into a broad valley fed by Warrior Creek along a forested stretch east of Gray Court.
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S.C. 92 spans I-385 east from Gray Court east to Lanford one mile south of Exit 16 with S.C. 101.
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S.C. 101 heads 8.4 miles north from Exit 16 to the city of Woodruff in Spartanburg County and 56.52 miles overall between U.S. 76 at Hickory Tavern and S.C. 11 in northern Greenville County.
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Interstate 385 gains frontage roads leading north from S.C. 101, The west side road serves an adjacent quarry while the eastern service road remains with the freeway to Fountain Inn.
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Fountain Inn represents the southern extent of the Greenville metropolitan area, with a number of subdivisions and industrial businesses located in the area within seven miles. Downtown Greenville is another 20 miles to the north.
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S.C. 14 (former U.S. 276) runs along a CSX Railroad line from Laurens, Gray Court and Owings north to a trumpet interchange (Exit 19) with Interstate 385.
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Exit 19 loops away from I-385 north for S.C. 14 south to the settlement of Owings. The freeway north overtakes a portion of the original U.S. 276 alignment between Exits 19 and 22.
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S.C. 14 shares an implied overlap with Interstate 385, 2.72 miles north to Laurens Road at Exit 22.
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S.C. 14 rejoins old U.S. 276 through the Fountain Inn city center, four miles ahead. Greenville is 24 miles away.
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A split diamond interchange joins I-385 north with S.C. 14 leading north along Laurens Road and Main Street through the city of Fountain Inn. S.C. 14 remains along former U.S. 276 to Simpsonville.
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S.C. 14 runs 59.24 miles overall, leaving old U.S. 276 at Simpsonville for Greer, Landrum and Interstate 26 near the North Carolina state line.
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Interstate 385 elevates along a sweeping curve north over Laurens Road, a Carolina Piedmont Railroad line and Old Laurens Road.
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Service roads accompany I-385 for the remainder of the drive along the original U.S. 276 freeway north to Mauldin. A diamond interchange (Exit 23) connects with S.C. 418 in 0.75 miles.
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This I-385 shield stands just north of the entrance ramp from Old Laurens Road and Hunts Bridge Road.
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Industrial businesses line both sides of Interstate 385 as the freeway enters Greenville County. A concrete barrier replaces the cable barrier and grassy median northward to S.C. 146 (Woodruff Road).
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S.C. 418 leads 11.42 miles west from I-385 and Fountain Inn to U.S. 25 opposite S.C. 8 at Ware Place. S.C. 8 extends westward to the towns of Pelzer and West Pelzer.
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A substandard parclo B2 interchange (Exit 23) joins Interstate 385 with Fairview Street in one mile. This is one of the few original exchanges remaining along the freeway northward to Mauldin.
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Photo Credits:
- Alex Nitzman: 12/31/13
- Carter Buchanan: 01/13/16
Page Updated Saturday June 19, 2021.