Origin
Myrtle Beach, SC
Afternoon in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Myrtle Beach, SC to Clemson, SC
Drive Time
5h 37m
Distance
275.7 mi
444 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Myrtle Beach, SC
Junior Bastos
Clemson, SC
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Myrtle Beach, SC to Clemson, SC covers 275.7 miles and takes about 5h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on J Strom Thurmond Freeway, I 26, Church Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.12 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
137.9 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 5h 37m highway drive covering 275.7 miles, with most of the trip on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
J Strom Thurmond Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 76.4 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
917 ft
43 ft
Total Climb
1,028 ft
Total Descent
346 ft
Highest Point
917 ft
~241.3 mi in
Elevation Range
874 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business / North Kings Highway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 275.7 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: near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 204.8 miles (I 385): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.4 miles (US 276): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
9
204.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m in
|
I 385
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
6
234.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m in
|
US 276
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276 toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderso...
7
246.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 55m in
Take the exit toward Easley, Clemson
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 Easley, Clemson
7
246.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Easley, Clemson
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Easley, Clemson
Towns Along This Route
Between Myrtle Beach, SC and Clemson, SC, road signs point toward Greenville, Mauldin, Anderson and Easley.
Greenville
204.8 mi in
|
~4h 8m
|
via I 385
Mauldin
234.4 mi in
|
~4h 41m
|
via US 276
Anderson
234.4 mi in
|
~4h 41m
|
via US 276
Easley
246.7 mi in
|
~4h 55m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J Strom Thurmond Freeway | 76.4 mi | 1h 25m |
| I 26 | 54.8 mi | 1h |
| Church Street | 31.2 mi | 39m |
| I 385 | 29.6 mi | 32m |
| US 76 | 18.8 mi | 24m |
| Calhoun Memorial Highway | 18.5 mi | 24m |
| Southern Connector | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| US 501 | 10.5 mi | 16m |
Longest stretch:
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
— 76.4 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Clemson, SC.
1
Start on this road
69 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
159 ft
·
13 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Business
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Kings Highway
4
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
489 ft
·
21 sec
·
6th Avenue North
5
Continue on 6th Avenue North
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
6th Avenue North
6
At end of road, turn right onto Alder Street
154 ft
·
6 sec
·
Alder Street
7
Turn left onto US 501
11 mi
·
16 min
·
US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 501
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 501 East
9
Continue on US 501
31 mi
·
39 min
·
Church Street
10
Turn straight onto SC 576
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
SC 576
11
Continue on US 76
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
US 76
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 76; US 301
12 mi
·
16 min
·
US 76; US 301
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Cheves Street
14
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Warley Street
15
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
16
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West David H McLeod Boulevard
17
Continue on I 20 Bus
76 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.7 mi
·
3 min
Exit 64B
Toward I 26 West
19
Merge onto I 26; US 76
55 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 385
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 385
Exit 51
Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 276
Toward I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
22
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 185: Atlanta, Anderson
23
Merge onto I 185
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Southern Connector
24
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Easley, Clemson
Use the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
510 ft
·
12 sec
Toward Easley, Clemson
26
Merge onto SC 153
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 153
27
Enter roundabout
26 ft
·
0 sec
28
Continue
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
29
Merge onto US 123
19 mi
·
24 min
·
Calhoun Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on US 123
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Tiger Boulevard
31
Turn left onto SC 133
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
College Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
SC 133
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 137.9 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.9 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clemson, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Myrtle 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 Myrtle Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 275.7 miles and 5h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Myrtle Beach, 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 76.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 137.9 mi from Myrtle Beach, SC · 2h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 137.9 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before J Strom Thurmond Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.4 miles.
Arriving in Clemson, SC
The final approach into Clemson, 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 Clemson, 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
$44.12 one way
$88.25 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $48.07 | $96.15 |
| premium | $4.78 | $51.86 | $103.72 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.25 | $122.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.7 | 1 | $28.95 | $13.23 |
| Efficient EV | 68.9 | 0 | $24.12 | $11.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.3 | 1 | $38.60 | $17.64 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Clemson, SC
Afternoon in Clemson on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
1 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
5h 37m 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 Myrtle Beach, SC to Clemson, SC covers 275.7 miles and takes about 5h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are J Strom Thurmond Freeway, I 26, Church 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 137.9 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $44.12 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 20 significant decision points across 275.7 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: near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 204.8 miles (I 385): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 234.4 miles (US 276): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Myrtle Beach, SC and Clemson, SC, road signs point toward Greenville, Mauldin, Anderson and Easley.
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