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Trip from Aiken, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 13m

Distance

212 mi

341 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
4h 0m ★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in South Carolina, United States

Aiken, SC

Wikimedia Commons

city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States of America

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Aiken, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 212 miles and takes about 4h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Chesterfield Street South, Richland Avenue East, York Street Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.15 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

106 miles from Aiken, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chesterfield Street South
Richland Avenue East
York Street Northeast
Columbia Highway North
West Palmetto Street
SC 22 East
Veterans Highway
SC 31 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Chesterfield Street South — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Aiken, SC and North Myrtle Beach, SC.

1

Start on Chesterfield Street South

387 ft · 13 sec · Chesterfield Street South
2

Continue on Chesterfield Street South

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Chesterfield Street South
3

Turn right onto Richland Avenue East

358 ft · 8 sec · Richland Avenue East
4

Turn left onto York Street Northeast

2.2 mi · 3 min · York Street Northeast
5

Continue on Columbia Highway North

5.8 mi · 6 min · Columbia Highway North
6

Take the exit slight right

0.5 mi · 59 sec
7

Merge slight left

121 mi · 2 hr 16 min
8

Turn left onto West Palmetto Street

23 mi · 32 min · West Palmetto Street
9

Continue straight

3.1 mi · 3 min
10

Continue straight

21 mi · 24 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward SC 22 East: North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach

1.0 mi · 2 min · SC 22 East: North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach
12

Continue on Veterans Highway

26 mi · 30 min · Veterans Highway
13

Take the exit slight right toward SC 31 North: Little River, Wilmington

0.3 mi · 36 sec · SC 31 North: Little River, Wilmington
14

Merge slight left onto Carolina Bays Parkway

5.1 mi · 5 min · Carolina Bays Parkway
15

Take the exit slight right toward Robert Edge Pkwy: North Myrtle Beach

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Robert Edge Pkwy: North Myrtle Beach
16

Turn right onto Robert Edge Parkway

1.7 mi · 2 min · Robert Edge Parkway
17

Turn right onto US Highway 17 South

0.3 mi · 43 sec · US Highway 17 South
18

Turn left onto 6th Avenue South

0.7 mi · 1 min · 6th Avenue South
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106 miles from Aiken, SC, or about 2h 6m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 47 miles or 56m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 106 miles or 2h 6m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Aiken, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Aiken, SC

This is one driving day of about 212 miles and 4h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Aiken, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Sumter, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sumter, SC

106 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

South Congaree, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sumter, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106 miles from Aiken, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.15 one way

$66.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $36.25 $72.50
premium $4.70 $39.24 $78.47
diesel $5.61 $46.81 $93.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.6 0 $22.26 $10.18
Efficient EV 53 0 $18.55 $8.48
EV Truck/SUV 84.8 1 $29.68 $13.57

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Aiken, SC

Afternoon in Aiken on Saturday

Local time

1:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Afternoon in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday

Local time

1:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

21 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 13m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

212 mi in 4h 13m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Chesterfield Street South.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 13m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aiken, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 212 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Aiken, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at North Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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