Origin
Cool Spring, SC
Evening in Cool Spring on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cool Spring, SC to Surfside Beach, SC
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
30.7 mi
49 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cool Spring, SC
Ravi Roshan
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cool Spring, SC to Surfside Beach, SC covers 30.7 miles and takes about 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on SC 544, SC 319, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.9 miles on SC 544. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.80 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
15.4 miles from Cool Spring, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 54m highway drive covering 30.7 miles, with most of the trip on SC 544 and SC 319. The longest continuous stretch is about 10.9 miles on SC 544.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
SC 544 is the longest continuous segment at about 10.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SC 544 and SC 319. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near SC 319.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (SC 319): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.5 miles (US 701): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles (US 17 Business): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
8.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
SC 319
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 319
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
8.5 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 701
Turn right onto US 701
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
3
28.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 17 Business
Turn right onto US 17 Business
Navigation decision point
4
30.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Surfside Drive
Turn left onto Surfside Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SC 544 | 10.9 mi | 18m |
| SC 319 | 8.3 mi | 13m |
| North Main Street | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| SC 544 Overpass | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| US 701 | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| US 17 Business | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| US 501 Business | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Surfside Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
SC 544
— 10.9 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cool Spring, SC and Surfside Beach, SC.
1
Start on Lela J Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Lela J Drive
2
Turn straight onto SC 319
8.3 mi
·
13 min
·
SC 319
3
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 319
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
SC 319
4
Turn right onto US 701
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 701
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 701
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 501 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 501 Business
7
Continue on SC 544
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
SC 544 Overpass
8
Continue on SC 544
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
SC 544
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto SC 544
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
SC 544
10
Turn right onto US 17 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 17 Business
11
Turn left onto Surfside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Surfside Drive
12
Arrive at destination
Surfside Drive
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 15.4 miles from Cool Spring, SC, or about 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10.9 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 30.7 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 15.4 miles or 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surfside Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Cool Spring, SC.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cool Spring, SC
This is one driving day of about 30.7 miles and 54m.
At 30.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on SC 544 for about 10.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.4 mi from Cool Spring, SC · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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 30.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.4 miles from Cool Spring, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Surfside Beach, SC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Surfside Beach, SC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.80 one way
$9.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.68 | $11.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.78 | $13.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| Efficient EV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.69 | $1.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Surfside Beach, SC
Evening in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
5:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Conway, SC
15 mi in
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
32 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
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 Cool Spring, SC to Surfside Beach, SC covers 30.7 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are SC 544, SC 319, North Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.4 miles from Cool Spring, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.80 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 is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.5 miles (SC 319): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.5 miles (US 701): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.5 miles (US 17 Business): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cool Spring, SC to Surfside Beach, 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 Surfside Beach, SC
Explore more options from Cool Spring, SC or browse trips ending in Surfside Beach, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Cool Spring, SC or Surfside Beach, SC on MapSof.net.