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Trip from Bluffton, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 38m

Distance

202.3 mi

326 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 25m ★
6 AM
4h 39m
8 AM
5h 5m
10 AM
4h 48m
12 PM
4h 45m
3 PM
4h 49m
5 PM
5h 4m
8 PM
4h 31m

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

Downtown Bluffton, SC, SC

Bluffton, SC

Connor Scott McManus

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

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bluffton, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 202.3 miles and takes about 4h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Bluffton Road, Fording Island Road, Okatie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.64 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

101.1 miles from Bluffton, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 19m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 38m drive with frequent turns across 202.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Bluffton Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 38m 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 Bluffton, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Bluffton Road
Fording Island Road
Okatie Highway
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
Robert Smalls Parkway
Parris Island Gateway
Trask Parkway
Septima P

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Bluffton Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Bruin Road

89 ft · 6 sec · Bruin Road
2

Turn right onto Bluffton Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bluffton Road
3

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bluffton Road

171 ft · 3 sec · Bluffton Road
4

Exit the roundabout onto Bluffton Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Bluffton Road
5

Turn left onto Fording Island Road

5.6 mi · 7 min · Fording Island Road
6

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 40 sec
7

Keep slight right

148 ft · 4 sec
8

Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway

12 mi · 13 min · Okatie Highway
9

Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

1.7 mi · 1 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
10

Continue on Robert Smalls Parkway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Robert Smalls Parkway
11

Turn slight left onto Parris Island Gateway

1.2 mi · 1 min · Parris Island Gateway
12

At the end of the road, turn left onto Trask Parkway

12 mi · 14 min · Trask Parkway
13

Take the exit slight right

0.5 mi · 1 min
14

Merge slight left

53 mi · 1 hr 14 min
15

Turn straight onto Septima P. Clark Parkway

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Septima P. Clark Parkway
16

Continue on Crosstown

0.5 mi · 1 min · Crosstown
17

Continue on Septima Clark Expressway

0.6 mi · 1 min · Septima Clark Expressway
18

Keep slight right to continue on US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown

9.8 mi · 15 min · US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
19

Continue straight

49 mi · 1 hr 3 min
20

Keep slight right to continue on North Fraser Street

446 ft · 6 sec · North Fraser Street
21

Merge slight left onto Church Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Church Street
22

Continue on L. H. Siau Bridge

0.3 mi · 25 sec · L. H. Siau Bridge
23

Continue on Ocean Highway

17 mi · 25 min · Ocean Highway
24

Continue on Highway 17

3.6 mi · 4 min · Highway 17
25

Take the exit straight toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach

7.1 mi · 8 min · US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach
26

Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South

1.2 mi · 1 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South
27

Continue on Highway 17

12 mi · 16 min · Highway 17
28

Continue on North Kings Highway

3.7 mi · 6 min · North Kings Highway
29

Continue on US Highway 17 South

3.2 mi · 6 min · US Highway 17 South
30

Turn right onto 14th Avenue South

0.2 mi · 33 sec · 14th Avenue South
31

Turn left onto Hillside Drive South

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hillside Drive South
32

Turn right onto 6th Avenue South

305 ft · 8 sec · 6th Avenue South
33

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 101.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 2h 19m 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 45 miles or 1h 1m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 101.1 miles or 2h 19m 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 48m

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 Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC

This is one driving day of about 202.3 miles and 4h 38m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Bluffton, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 101.1 mi from Bluffton, SC · 2h 19m into the drive

town in Charleston County, South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mount Pleasant, SC

101 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

Walterboro, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mount Pleasant, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101.1 miles from Bluffton, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in North Myrtle Beach, SC

The final approach into North Myrtle Beach, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around North Myrtle Beach, SC.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.64 one way

$63.27 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $34.59 $69.18
premium $4.70 $37.44 $74.88
diesel $5.61 $44.67 $89.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.7 0 $21.24 $9.71
Efficient EV 50.6 0 $17.70 $8.09
EV Truck/SUV 80.9 1 $28.32 $12.95

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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

Bluffton, SC

Night in Bluffton on Wednesday

Local time

9:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Night in North Myrtle Beach on Wednesday

Local time

9:28 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

1 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 38m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bluffton, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 202.3 miles and takes about 4h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Bluffton Road, Fording Island Road, Okatie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.1 miles from Bluffton, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 38m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Bluffton, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Bluffton, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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