Origin
Murrells Inlet, SC
Afternoon in Murrells Inlet on Monday
Local time
2:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
164 mi
264 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 57m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 5m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 6m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m
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 Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC covers 164 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Wachesaw Road, Highway 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.25 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
82 miles from Murrells Inlet, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 164 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 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 Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 2h 56m 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 Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wachesaw Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ocean Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| L | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Church Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highmarket Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Georgetown Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 17
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Murrells Inlet, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 17 Business
2
Turn right onto Wachesaw Road
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Wachesaw Road
3
Turn left onto Highway 17
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 17
4
Continue on Ocean Highway
17 mi
·
25 min
·
Ocean Highway
5
Continue on L. H. Siau Bridge
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
L. H. Siau Bridge
6
Continue on Church Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
7
Merge slight left onto Highmarket Street
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Highmarket Street
8
Continue on Georgetown Highway
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Georgetown Highway
9
Continue on Georgetown Highway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Georgetown Highway
10
Continue on East Main Street
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
11
Continue on US Highway 521
27 mi
·
30 min
·
US Highway 521
12
Continue on Society Street
0.8 mi
·
54 sec
·
Society Street
13
Continue on Society Street
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
Society Street
14
Continue on C E Murray Boulevard
12 mi
·
13 min
·
C E Murray Boulevard
15
Turn slight right
338 ft
·
4 sec
16
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
17
Merge slight left onto Greeleyville Highway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Greeleyville Highway
18
Continue on East Boyce Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Boyce Street
19
Turn right onto North Church Street
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
·
North Church Street
20
Continue on North Brooks Street
15 mi
·
17 min
·
North Brooks Street
21
Turn left onto South Guignard Parkway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Guignard Parkway
22
Continue on South Guignard Drive
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Guignard Drive
23
Continue on Bultman Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bultman Drive
24
Turn left onto Broad Street
3.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Broad Street
25
Continue straight
34 mi
·
42 min
26
Continue on Devine Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Devine Street
27
Turn slight right onto Millwood Avenue
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Millwood Avenue
28
Turn left onto Gervais Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Gervais Street
29
Continue on Gervais Street
233 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
30
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 82 miles from Murrells Inlet, SC, or about 1h 28m 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 28m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Murrells Inlet, 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 Murrells Inlet, SC
This is one driving day of about 164 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Murrells Inlet, 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 82 mi from Murrells Inlet, SC · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 82 miles from Murrells Inlet, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia, SC
The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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
$26.25 one way
$52.49 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $28.60 | $57.19 |
| premium | $4.78 | $30.85 | $61.70 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $36.44 | $72.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.2 | 0 | $17.22 | $7.87 |
| Efficient EV | 41 | 0 | $14.35 | $6.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.96 | $10.50 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Columbia, SC
Afternoon in Columbia on Monday
Local time
2:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 56m 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 Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC covers 164 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Wachesaw Road, Highway 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 82 miles from Murrells Inlet, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.25 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.
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 Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 2h 56m 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 Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Murrells Inlet, SC to Columbia, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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