Origin
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night in Myrtle Beach on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
165.1 mi
266 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Winnsboro, SC
Wikimedia Commons
This 165.1-mile drive from Myrtle Beach, SC to Winnsboro, SC is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 26 minutes. With 75% of the journey on highways, you'll find it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. Budget around $26 for fuel to cover this distance. The route is focused on efficient travel, making it a practical choice for getting between these two South Carolina locations without needing an overnight stay. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the trip.
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
82.5 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 165.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 75% of this 165.1-mile route. The majority of your travel will be on roads like the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 65.8 miles. While there are sections on Church Street and US 76, the overall personality is one of efficient transit rather than winding scenic byways. The road primarily facilitates movement, offering a consistent pace for the bulk of the journey.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
701 ft
Total Descent
191 ft
Highest Point
535 ft
~165.1 mi in
Elevation Range
510 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and Church Street. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 165.1 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 0.4 miles (Alder Street): Navigation decision point; at 137.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Alder Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 77 North: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SC 34: Ridgeway, Winnsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Myrtle Beach, SC to Winnsboro, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J Strom Thurmond Freeway | 65.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| Church Street | 31.2 mi | 39m |
| US 76 | 18.8 mi | 24m |
| Charles F Bolden Freeway | 17.4 mi | 19m |
| US 501 | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 34 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| SC 576 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Winnsboro, SC.
Start on this road
Turn left
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Business
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Continue on 6th Avenue North
At end of road, turn right onto Alder Street
Turn left onto US 501
Continue on US 501
Continue on US 501
Turn straight onto SC 576
Continue on US 76
Continue on US 76; US 301
Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street
Turn right onto Warley Street
Turn left onto S-21-31
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
Continue on I 20 Bus
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 77
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto SC 34
At end of road, turn right onto US 321
Turn right onto US 321 Business
Continue on US 321 Business
Continue on US 321 Business
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour and 26-minute duration, this route is comfortably completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential brief stops without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 65.8 miles on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, as services might be more spaced out in certain sections. The $26 fuel cost is a good estimate to keep in mind for your budget.
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.
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 36 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.5 miles or 1h 51m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winnsboro, SC than in the middle of the route.
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 165.1 miles and 3h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82.5 mi from Myrtle Beach, SC · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
83 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.
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 82.5 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 65.8 miles.
The final approach into Winnsboro, 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 Winnsboro, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$25.82 one way
$51.64 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.23 | $56.46 |
| premium | $4.70 | $30.56 | $61.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.45 | $72.90 |
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: 57.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.34 | $7.92 |
| Efficient EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.45 | $6.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66 | 0 | $23.11 | $10.57 |
Gas CO2
58 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Myrtle Beach on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Winnsboro on Friday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
74°F
Florence, SC
83 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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