Origin
Columbia, SC
Afternoon in Columbia on Monday
Local time
1:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC
Drive Time
3h 7m
Distance
145.6 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 56m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 31m
10 AM
3h 16m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 17m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m
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 Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 145.6 miles and takes about 3h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Millwood Avenue, Devine Street, Garners Ferry Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.30 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.8 miles from Columbia, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 7m drive with frequent turns across 145.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Millwood Avenue 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC is easy. At 3h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Millwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Devine Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Garners Ferry Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bultman Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Guignard Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Guignard Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Manning Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Millwood Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, SC and Murrells Inlet, SC.
1
Start on Gervais Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Gervais Street
2
Turn right onto Millwood Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Millwood Avenue
3
Continue on Devine Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Devine Street
4
Continue on Garners Ferry Road
36 mi
·
45 min
·
Garners Ferry Road
5
Keep slight right to continue on Broad Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
6
Turn slight right onto Bultman Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bultman Drive
7
Continue on North Guignard Drive
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
North Guignard Drive
8
Continue on South Guignard Parkway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Guignard Parkway
9
Turn right onto Manning Road
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Manning Road
10
Continue on North Church Street
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
North Church Street
11
Turn left onto East Boyce Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Boyce Street
12
Continue on Greeleyville Highway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Greeleyville Highway
13
Continue on Society Street
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Society Street
14
Continue on Society Street
0.8 mi
·
53 sec
·
Society Street
15
Continue on US Highway 521
27 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 521
16
Continue on West Main Street
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
17
Continue on Georgetown Highway
7.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Georgetown Highway
18
Continue on Highmarket Street
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
Highmarket Street
19
Keep slight left to continue on Church Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
20
Continue on L. H. Siau Bridge
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
L. H. Siau Bridge
21
Continue on Ocean Highway
17 mi
·
25 min
·
Ocean Highway
22
Continue on Highway 17
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 17
23
Turn right onto Wachesaw Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Wachesaw Road
24
At the end of the road, turn left onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 17 Business
25
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 72.8 miles from Columbia, SC, or about 1h 33m 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.8 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 34m
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 Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC
This is one driving day of about 145.6 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Columbia, 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 72.8 mi from Columbia, SC · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 72.8 miles from Columbia, 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
$23.30 one way
$46.60 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $25.39 | $50.78 |
| premium | $4.78 | $27.39 | $54.78 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.35 | $64.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.29 | $6.99 |
| Efficient EV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.74 | $5.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.2 | 0 | $20.38 | $9.32 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Murrells Inlet on Monday
Local time
1:48 PM
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
17 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
3h 7m 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 Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 145.6 miles and takes about 3h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Millwood Avenue, Devine Street, Garners Ferry Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.8 miles from Columbia, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.30 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC is easy. At 3h 7m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Murrells Inlet, SC
More trips to Murrells Inlet, SC
Explore more options from Columbia, SC or browse trips ending in Murrells Inlet, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Columbia, SC or Murrells Inlet, SC on MapSof.net.