All You Need to Know About I-26

I-26 is an east-west interstate that actually runs southeast-northwes through South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Interstate 26 highway (I-26) runs about 305 miles between Kingsport, Tennessee at its westernmost point, and Charleston, South Carolina, at its tail end in the east. 
It’s a fairly short interstate, but if you take all of I-26 you’ll pass through gorgeous Appalachian scenery and riverside views through Charleston before approaching the coast.
Along the way
, you’ll find some great places to stop and eat, and even more places to stop and learn, especially about the American Civil War. 
You can get a preview of your drive down I-26 through the article below.
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What is an interstate highway?

Sometimes called the greatest public works project in history, the American interstate highway system is composed of 47,000 miles of highways connecting states and cities throughout the country. 
To figure out which way a particular interstate goes, there’s a handy numbering system to keep them organized. Interstate highways that travel north-south have odd numbers, and those that travel east-west have even numbers. This system may seem to defy logic in cases like I-26, which for long sections seems to travel north-south. But, overall, I-26 is considered an east-west highway—although it does go diagonally southeast-northwest

What states does I-26 run through?

As it cuts through the southeastern United States from Tennessee to South Carolina, here’s how long you’ll spend in each state the interstate crosses.
Oddly enough, I-26 still isn’t finished, and as you travel you might see signs designating it as the “Future I-26.” That’s because a significant stretch of the highway, between Rice Bend, Tennessee, and
Mars Hill
, North Carolina remains unfinished, and planned improvement projects have been repeatedly kicked down the road due to funding issues. 

Major interchanges on I-26

As you plan out your trip, you’ll want to be aware of the major interchanges you’ll encounter along I-26. They are:
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Best places to eat along I-26

When you’re on a long drive, a great way to break up the monotony of the highway is to stop in at a restaurant for a bite of local flavor. Some of the best places to stop and eat along I-26 are:
  • El PinchoTaco
    (Charleston, SC): Stop in for El PinchoTaco’s authentic Mexican cuisine and atmosphere, plus an impressive lineup of specialty dishes, like birria, street corn, and tortas. 
  • Butcher & Bee
    (Charleston, SC): Butcher & Bee offers up locally-sourced, fresh food prepared in the Mediterranean style. They have some great twists on traditional favorites, including sides like smoked onion jam and celery root falafel.
  • The CODfather Proper Fish & Chips
    (North Charleston, SC): Don’t be fooled by the name—aside from its British pub-style fish and chips, The CODfather features other well-loved foods from across the pond, like steak pie and sausage rolls. 
  • LoLA
    (North Charleston, SC): If you’ve got a hankering for deep southern food, LoLA brings the flavors of lower Louisiana to North Charleston. Think menu items like gator bites, seafood gumbo, praline pecan cornbread, oysters, and fried green tomatoes. 
  • Poke Bros.
    (North Charleston, SC): If your flavor is more South Pacific than southern Louisiana, check out Poke Bros. Their menu of Hawaiian-style fresh fish poke bowls are a healthy and easy option if you’re looking for a lighter meal that’s still satisfying. 
Pro Tip Be sure to check the current operating hours for the restaurants you want to stop at along I-26. Sometimes, restaurants have seasonally changing hours, and with supply and staffing issues, they may need to abruptly change schedules. 

What is there to do on I-26?

Hopefully, you’ll have time to stop and take a look around during your trip on I-26. Besides the mountain and coastal scenery, there are numerous opportunities to learn by stopping at one of the historical sites along the route. 
Here are a few suggested stops to make on I-26:
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