Trip from Garden City Beach, SC to Loris, SC

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 8m

Distance

43.8 mi

71 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min

4 AM

1h 3m ★

6 AM

1h 8m

8 AM

1h 19m

10 AM

1h 12m

12 PM

1h 11m

3 PM

1h 13m

5 PM

1h 19m

8 PM

1h 5m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Loris, SC

Poppy Gitsham

Trip Overview

The drive from Garden City Beach, SC to Loris, SC covers 43.8 miles and takes about 1h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Highway 17, Red Bluff Road, Carolina Bays Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 13.2 miles on Highway 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.85 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

21.9 miles from Garden City Beach, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Garden City Beach, SC to Loris, SC covers 43.8 miles and takes about 1h 8m, 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 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Highway 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.2 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 2.8 miles in near US 17 / Highway 17.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 43.8 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 2.8 miles (US 17 / Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 17 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

2.8 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 17 / Highway 17

Turn right onto US 17 / Highway 17

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

17.2 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward Grissom Pkwy North: SC 31, Carolina Forest

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Grissom Pkwy North: SC 31, Carolina Fore...

23.7 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward SC 22: North Myrtle Beach, Conway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward SC 22: North Myrtle Beach, Conway

24.2 mi into trip | ~35m in

Keep slight left at fork toward SC 22 West: Conway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward SC 22 West: Conway

28 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward SC 90: Little River, Conway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward SC 90: Little River, Conway

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Garden City Beach, SC and Loris, SC, road signs point toward Grissom Pkwy North: Sc 31, Carolina Forest and Conway.

Grissom Pkwy North: Sc 31

17.2 mi in | ~26m

Carolina Forest

17.2 mi in | ~26m

Conway

23.7 mi in | ~34m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 17	13.2 mi	17m
Red Bluff Road	10.5 mi	18m
Carolina Bays Parkway	4.9 mi	5m
Highway 31	3.9 mi	5m
Veterans Highway	3 mi	3m
US Highway 17 Bypass South	1.2 mi	1m
Garden City Connector	1.1 mi	2m
Atlantic Avenue	1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Highway 17 — 13.2 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Garden City Beach, SC and Loris, SC.

Start on Cedar Avenue

301 ft · 18 sec · Cedar Avenue

Turn left onto S-26-155

0.3 mi · 52 sec · South Waccamaw Drive

Turn left onto S-26-51

1.0 mi · 2 min · Atlantic Avenue

Turn right onto US 17 Business

0.3 mi · 47 sec · US 17 Business

Turn left onto Garden City Connector

0.7 mi · 1 min · Garden City Connector

Enter roundabout onto Garden City Connector

142 ft · 4 sec · Garden City Connector

Continue on Garden City Connector

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Garden City Connector

Turn right onto US 17

5.2 mi · 5 min · Highway 17

Use the left lane.

Continue on US 17

1.2 mi · 1 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South

Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South

8.0 mi · 11 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec

Toward Grissom Pkwy North: SC 31, Carolina Forest

Continue on S-26-1315

1.0 mi · 1 min · Robert M. Grissom Parkway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Toward SC 31 North: North Myrtle Beach

Merge onto SC 31

4.9 mi · 5 min · Carolina Bays Parkway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward SC 22: North Myrtle Beach, Conway Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward SC 22 West: Conway Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto SC 22

3.0 mi · 3 min · Veterans Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Toward SC 90: Little River, Conway Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto SC 90

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Highway 90

Turn left onto S-26-31

3.9 mi · 5 min · Highway 31

Continue on S-26-31

10 mi · 18 min · Red Bluff Road

Continue on S-26-31

0.6 mi · 1 min · Bryant Street

Turn left onto SC 9 Business

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Main Street

Turn left onto US 701

191 ft · 5 sec · Broad Street

Turn right onto Duncan Street

516 ft · 24 sec · Duncan Street

Turn right onto Railroad Avenue

146 ft · 3 sec · Railroad Avenue

Arrive at destination

Railroad Avenue

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 21.9 miles from Garden City Beach, SC, or about 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.2 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 43.8 miles or 1h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 21.9 miles or 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loris, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Garden City Beach, 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 Garden City Beach, SC

This is one driving day of about 43.8 miles and 1h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Garden City Beach, 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 Highway 17 for about 13.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 21.9 mi from Garden City Beach, SC · 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wilmington, NC

22 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

Wilmington, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 43.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wilmington, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 21.9 miles from Garden City Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Loris, SC

The final approach into Loris, 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 Loris, 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

$6.85 one way

$13.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 15 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$7.49	$14.98
premium	$4.70	$8.11	$16.21
diesel	$5.61	$9.67	$19.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	13.1	$4.60	$2.10
Efficient EV	11	$3.83	$1.75
EV Truck/SUV	17.5	$6.13	$2.80

Gas CO2

15 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Garden City Beach, SC

Afternoon in Garden City Beach on Wednesday

Local time

4:00 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Loris, SC

Afternoon in Loris on Wednesday

Local time

4:00 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°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

28 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

1h 8m 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 Garden City Beach, SC to Loris, SC covers 43.8 miles and takes about 1h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 17, Red Bluff Road, Carolina Bays Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 21.9 miles from Garden City Beach, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.85 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.

Between Garden City Beach, SC and Loris, SC, road signs point toward Grissom Pkwy North: Sc 31, Carolina Forest and Conway.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Loris, SC

Greenville, SC 246.3 mi · 4h 46m Charleston, SC 117 mi · 2h 47m

Explore more options from Garden City Beach, SC or browse trips ending in Loris, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.

Explore maps for Garden City Beach, SC or Loris, SC on MapSof.net.