Origin
East Gaffney, SC
Morning in East Gaffney on Saturday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Gaffney, SC to 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 43m
Distance
219.7 mi
354 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 53m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Gaffney, SC
Mark Stebnicki
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from East Gaffney, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 219.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 501 Business, Pageland Highway, East Palmetto Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.9 miles on US 501 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.36 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
109.9 miles from East Gaffney, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 219.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from East Gaffney, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 219.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 501 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 41.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.4 miles in near SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 219.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.4 miles (SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles (SC 901; SC 5 / Heckle Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles (SC 121; SC 5 / Albright Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
25.4 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway
Turn left onto SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
39.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
SC 901; SC 5 / Heckle Boulevard
Turn right onto SC 901; SC 5 / Heckle Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
42.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
SC 121; SC 5 / Albright Road
At end of road, turn left onto SC 121; SC 5 / Albright Road
Navigation decision point
5
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
SC 9
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
93.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 501 Business | 41.9 mi | 55m |
| Pageland Highway | 19.5 mi | 22m |
| East Palmetto Street | 18.9 mi | 24m |
| State Hwy 151 Bypass | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| West Bobo Newsome Highway | 15.1 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 151 | 10 mi | 12m |
| Black Highway | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| Catawba River Road | 8.8 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
US 501 Business
— 41.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Gaffney, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on US 29
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Cherokee Avenue
2
Continue on US 29
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
West Cherokee Street
3
Turn right onto SC 5
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
York Road
4
Continue on SC 5
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
York Highway
5
Continue on SC 5
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
York Road
6
Continue on SC 5
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kings Creek Drive
7
Continue on SC 5
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Black Highway
8
Turn left onto SC 5
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Alexander Love Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on SC 5
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
York Highway
10
Continue on SC 5
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
11
Turn right onto SC 901; SC 5
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Heckle Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto SC 121; SC 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Albright Road
13
Continue on US 21 Business; SC 5; SC 121
0.8 mi
·
57 sec
·
East Main Street
14
Continue on US 21; SC 5
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
South Anderson Road
15
Continue on US 21
8.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Catawba River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
501 ft
·
9 sec
17
Merge onto Texaco Road
487 ft
·
12 sec
·
Texaco Road
18
Turn left onto SC 9
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Lancaster Highway
19
Continue on SC 9
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Lancaster Bypass
20
Take the exit onto SC 9
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
SC 9
21
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
276 ft
·
7 sec
·
SC 9
22
Merge onto SC 9
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Pageland Highway
23
Turn right onto Tory Road
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Tory Road
24
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business
451 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pearl Street
25
Merge onto SC 151
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 151
26
Continue on SC 151 Bypass
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Hwy 151 Bypass
27
Continue on SC 151
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 151
28
Continue on SC 151
15 mi
·
21 min
·
West Bobo Newsome Highway
29
Continue on SC 34; SC 151
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Harry Byrd Highway
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
31
Merge onto US 52; US 401
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Governor Williams Highway
32
Continue on US 52
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lucas Street
33
Continue on South Church Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Church Street
34
Turn left onto East Cheves Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cheves Street
35
At end of road, turn left onto US 76
19 mi
·
24 min
·
East Palmetto Street
36
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
SC 576
37
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi
·
55 min
·
US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
38
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft
·
14 sec
·
8th Avenue North
40
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Kings Highway
41
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft
·
11 sec
·
5th Avenue North
42
Turn right
196 ft
·
14 sec
43
Arrive at 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 109.9 miles from East Gaffney, SC, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 48 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 2h 15m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Gaffney, 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 East Gaffney, SC
This is one driving day of about 219.7 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from East Gaffney, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 501 Business for about 41.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.9 mi from East Gaffney, SC · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
110 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 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109.9 miles from East Gaffney, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Myrtle Beach, SC
The final approach into 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 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
$34.36 one way
$68.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $37.57 | $75.13 |
| premium | $4.70 | $40.66 | $81.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.51 | $97.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.9 | 0 | $23.07 | $10.55 |
| Efficient EV | 54.9 | 0 | $19.22 | $8.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.9 | 1 | $30.76 | $14.06 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning in Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Monroe, NC
110 mi in
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
9 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
4h 43m 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 East Gaffney, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 219.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 501 Business, Pageland Highway, East Palmetto Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.9 miles from East Gaffney, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.36 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 demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 219.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.4 miles (SC 5 / Alexander Love Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.5 miles (SC 901; SC 5 / Heckle Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles (SC 121; SC 5 / Albright Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from East Gaffney, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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