Trip.ovh Logo
Trip.ovh

Trip from North Charleston, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC

Drive Time

2h 40m

Distance

113.7 mi

183 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

10 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 30m ★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 48m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 49m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
Downtown North Charleston, SC, SC

North Charleston, SC

Connor Scott McManus

city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States of America

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Charleston, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 17, Ocean Highway, Highway 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.7 miles on US 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.20 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

56.9 miles from North Charleston, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 40m highway drive covering 113.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Ocean Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 65.7 miles on US 17.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Ocean Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 52 / Carner Avenue.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 113.7 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: at 0.3 miles (US 52 / Carner Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 52 / Carner Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto US 52 / Carner Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant

Navigation decision point

Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant
5
4.6 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 17

Merge onto US 17

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
63.1 mi into trip | ~1h 25m in | US 17 / North Fraser Street

Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 / North Fraser Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

7
85.8 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | US 17

Take the exit onto US 17 toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from North Charleston, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.

Myrtle Beach

85.8 mi in | ~1h 58m | via US 17

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 17 65.7 mi 1h 26m
Ocean Highway 17.4 mi 25m
Highway 17 15.2 mi 20m
North Kings Highway 3.7 mi 6m
US Highway 17 South 3.2 mi 6m
Meeting Street Road 3.1 mi 4m
Church Street 1.3 mi 2m
US Highway 17 Bypass South 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 17 — 65.7 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North Charleston, SC and North Myrtle Beach, SC.

1

Start on US 52; US 78

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Rivers Avenue
2

Keep slight left at fork onto US 52

0.8 mi · 1 min · Carner Avenue
3

Continue on US 52

3.1 mi · 4 min · Meeting Street Road
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant
5

Merge onto US 17

9.2 mi · 15 min · US 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Continue on US 17

49 mi · 1 hr 3 min · US 17
Use the left lane.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 17

445 ft · 5 sec · North Fraser Street
8

Merge onto US 17

1.3 mi · 2 min · Church Street
9

Continue on US 17

0.3 mi · 25 sec · L. H. Siau Bridge
10

Continue on US 17

17 mi · 25 min · Ocean Highway
11

Continue on US 17

3.6 mi · 4 min · Highway 17
12

Take the exit onto US 17

7.1 mi · 8 min · US 17
Toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on US 17

1.2 mi · 1 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South
14

Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South

12 mi · 16 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Continue on US 17

3.7 mi · 6 min · North Kings Highway
16

Continue on US 17

3.2 mi · 6 min · US Highway 17 South
Use the straight / right lanes.
17

Turn right onto 14th Avenue South

0.2 mi · 33 sec · 14th Avenue South
18

Turn left onto S-26-360

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hillside Drive South
19

Turn right onto S-26-358

304 ft · 8 sec · 6th Avenue South
20

Arrive at destination

S-26-358

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 56.9 miles from North Charleston, SC, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 56.9 miles or 1h 17m 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 7m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North Charleston, 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 North Charleston, SC

This is one driving day of about 113.7 miles and 2h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North Charleston, 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 US 17 for about 65.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.9 mi from North Charleston, SC · 1h 17m into the drive

Downtown Mount Pleasant, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mount Pleasant, SC

57 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

Mount Pleasant, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wilmington, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.9 miles from North Charleston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 miles.

Arriving in North Myrtle Beach, SC

The final approach into North Myrtle Beach, 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 North Myrtle Beach, SC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 near mile 7.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.20 one way

$36.39 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $19.83 $39.65
premium $4.78 $21.39 $42.78
diesel $5.64 $25.26 $50.52

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Citadel Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Charleston, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Mellow Mushroom - Tesla Supercharger

North Charleston, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Pilot Travel Center 1082

N. Charleston, SC

eVgo Network

6 DCFC

Tidelands Ford

Pawleys Island, SC

RED_E

4 DCFC

Hudson Nissan

Charleston, SC

Non-Networked

2 DCFC

PALMETTO EV PALMETTO1

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

PALMETTO EV PALMETTO2

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

Hudson Nissan

Charleston, SC

Non-Networked

1 DCFC

Non-Networked: 3 Tesla: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 eVgo Network: 1 RED_E: 1 Blink Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.1 0 $11.94 $5.46
Efficient EV 28.4 0 $9.95 $4.55
EV Truck/SUV 45.5 0 $15.92 $7.28

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 18 hours ago

Origin

North Charleston, SC

Afternoon in North Charleston on Monday

Local time

4:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Afternoon in North Myrtle Beach on Monday

Local time

4:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°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

10 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 40m 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 North Charleston, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 113.7 miles and takes about 2h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Ocean Highway, Highway 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.9 miles from North Charleston, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.20 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 113.7 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: at 0.3 miles (US 52 / Carner Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 4.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from North Charleston, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

North Myrtle Beach, SC to North Charleston, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

113.6 mi 2h 38m

Continue From North Myrtle Beach, SC

Greenville, SC 259 mi · 5h 4m Spartanburg, SC 254.5 mi · 4h 5m Rock Hill, SC 176.3 mi · 3h 43m Hanahan, SC 122.4 mi · 2h 23m

More from North Charleston, SC

Westminster, SC 251.2 mi · 4h 55m Pendleton, SC 229 mi · 4h 26m Anderson County Airport, SC 226.7 mi · 4h 25m Pickens, SC 225.5 mi · 4h 21m Arial, SC 221 mi · 4h 14m Anderson, SC 220.9 mi · 4h 17m

More trips to North Myrtle Beach, SC

Garden City Beach, SC 28.8 mi

Explore more options from North Charleston, SC or browse trips ending in North Myrtle Beach, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.

Explore maps for North Charleston, SC or North Myrtle Beach, SC on MapSof.net.