Origin
Lake City, SC
Afternoon in Lake City on Friday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake City, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
60.6 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake City, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 60.6-mile drive from Lake City, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is a prime candidate for a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. The majority of your journey, 93%, will be on highways, primarily utilizing US 378 and Highway 501 East. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, this route offers an economical way to get from one Southeast destination to another. The overall feel is a functional, highway-focused progression, ideal for those who want to reach their destination efficiently without extensive detours.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 43.8 miles on US 378, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to Highway 501 East and then US 501, the character remains largely that of a main artery, designed for straightforward travel. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a direct path connecting your starting point to the coast.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 378 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 378 and Highway 501 East. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 378 Business / North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.2 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 378 Business / North Church Street
Turn left onto US 378 Business / North Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 378 | 43.8 mi | 57m |
| Highway 501 East | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| US 501 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Church Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Myrtle Beach Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Church Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Kings Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 378
— 43.8 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on South Acline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Acline Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 378 Business; SC 341
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 378 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Church Street
4
Continue on US 378 Business
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Myrtle Beach Highway
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 378
44 mi
·
57 min
·
US 378
6
Turn right onto US 501; US 701
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
7
Continue on US 501
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 501 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft
·
14 sec
·
8th Avenue North
10
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Kings Highway
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft
·
11 sec
·
5th Avenue North
12
Turn right
196 ft
·
14 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.3 mi from Lake City, SC · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.3 miles from Lake City, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.48 one way
$18.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.22 | $22.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Myrtle Beach, SC
Afternoon in Myrtle Beach on Friday
Local time
2:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Johnsonville, SC
30 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
16 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 25m 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 Lake City, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 60.6 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 378, Highway 501 East, US 501. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.3 miles from Lake City, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.48 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 1h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 378 Business / North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.2 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Lake City, 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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