Origin
Charleston, SC
Morning in Charleston on Wednesday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
82 mi
132 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 46m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 1m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Murrells Inlet, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Charleston, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Ocean Highway, Johnnie Dodds Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.4 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.82 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
41 miles from Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 54m highway drive covering 82 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Ocean Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 49.4 miles on US 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Ocean Highway. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near S-10-107 / Meeting Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Turn right onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Calhoun Street
Turn right onto Calhoun Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Merge onto US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
US 17 / North Fraser Street
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 / North Fraser Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
81.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
|
US 17 BUS / US 17 Business
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 BUS / US 17 Business
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 49.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| Ocean Highway | 17.4 mi | 25m |
| Johnnie Dodds Boulevard | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Highway 17 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Church Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Bay Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Meeting Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 49.4 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, SC and Murrells Inlet, SC.
1
Start on Broad Street
40 ft
·
5 sec
·
Broad Street
2
Turn right onto S-10-107
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Meeting Street
Use the straight lane.
3
Turn right onto Calhoun Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Calhoun Street
4
Turn left onto East Bay Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bay Street
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 17 North
6
Merge onto US 17
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on US 17
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Johnnie Dodds Boulevard
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 17
49 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
US 17
Use the left lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
445 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Fraser Street
10
Merge onto US 17
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
11
Continue on US 17
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
L. H. Siau Bridge
12
Continue on US 17
17 mi
·
25 min
·
Ocean Highway
13
Continue on US 17
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 17
14
Turn right onto S-22-62
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Wachesaw Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 BUS
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 17 Business
16
Arrive at destination
US 17 BUS
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41 miles from Charleston, SC, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.4 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murrells Inlet, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charleston, 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 Charleston, SC
This is one driving day of about 82 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 49.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Charleston, SC · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 41 miles from Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Murrells Inlet, SC
The final approach into Murrells Inlet, 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 Murrells Inlet, 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
$12.82 one way
$25.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.02 | $28.04 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.18 | $30.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.10 | $36.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.61 | $3.94 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.48 | $5.25 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Murrells Inlet, SC
Morning in Murrells Inlet on Wednesday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 54m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Charleston, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Ocean Highway, Johnnie Dodds Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41 miles from Charleston, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (S-10-107 / Meeting Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Calhoun Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 17 / Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Charleston, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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