Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
4h 15m
Distance
189.3 mi
305 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Junior Bastos
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Spanning 189.3 miles across the South Carolina coast, this drive from Myrtle Beach to Bluffton typically takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes. It functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $30 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to navigate the Southeast. The route relies on a mix of North Fraser Street, Savannah Highway, and Ocean Highway to bridge the gap between these two coastal hubs. Because the transit is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your itinerary to suit your personal pace.
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
94.6 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as only 29% of this route consists of traditional highways. You will spend much of your time navigating local roads, which keeps the experience engaging if you prefer staying off the major freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 56 miles along North Fraser Street. As the drive progresses, the rhythm shifts from these longer segments to more frequent transitions through local roads. This personality makes the trip feel more connected to the regional landscape than a standard high-speed commute.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
140 ft
Total Descent
141 ft
Highest Point
48 ft
~118.3 mi in
Elevation Range
53 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business / North Kings Highway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 189.3 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 US 17 South: Georgetown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 17 / Highway 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 17 / North Fraser Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Fraser Street | 56 mi | 1h 14m |
| Savannah Highway | 29.7 mi | 43m |
| Ocean Highway | 17.4 mi | 25m |
| Ace Basin Parkway | 17.1 mi | 22m |
| Highway 17 | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Okatie Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Trask Parkway | 12 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 5.8 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Bluffton, SC.
Start on the route
Turn left
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Kings Highway
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
Continue on 6th Avenue North
At the end of the road, turn right onto Alder Street
Turn left
Take the exit slight right toward US 17 South: Georgetown
Merge slight left onto Highway 17
Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South
Continue on Highway 17
Continue on Ocean Highway
Continue on L. H. Siau Bridge
Continue on Church Street
Turn left onto North Fraser Street
Continue on North Highway 17
Continue on Septima P. Clark Parkway
Continue on Spring Street
Continue on Spring Street
Continue straight
Merge slight left onto Savannah Highway
Continue on Ace Basin Parkway
Continue on Charleston Highway
Take the exit slight right
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Trask Parkway
Exit the roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Turn right onto Parris Island Gateway
Turn slight right onto Robert Smalls Parkway
Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
Continue on Okatie Highway
Take the exit slight right
Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road
Turn right onto Bluffton Road
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Bluffton Road
Exit the roundabout onto Bluffton Road
Turn left onto Bruin Road
Arrive at your destination
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the 4-hour and 15-minute travel time. Since this route involves a significant amount of local driving, keep a close eye on your navigation to handle the frequent turns efficiently. Departing early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion on local thoroughfares. With fuel costs estimated at $30, it is helpful to fill your tank before you leave Myrtle Beach to avoid searching for stations during the turn-heavy sections of the trip. Embrace the flexibility of this one-day itinerary by keeping your schedule light enough to account for the slower pace of local roads.
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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.6 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluffton, 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 189.3 miles and 4h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 94.6 mi from Myrtle Beach, SC · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 94.6 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.30 one way
$60.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $33.01 | $66.02 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.61 | $71.22 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.06 | $84.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.88 | $9.09 |
| Efficient EV | 47.3 | 0 | $16.56 | $7.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.7 | 0 | $26.50 | $12.12 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Monday
Local time
4:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Clear
Destination
Late night in Bluffton on Monday
Local time
4:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Clear
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
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.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Myrtle Beach, SC or browse trips ending in Bluffton, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Myrtle Beach, SC or Bluffton, SC on MapSof.net.