The drive from North Charleston, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 100.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m 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 $15.67 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.
Midpoint
50.1 miles from North Charleston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 100.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 18m highway drive covering 100.2 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 21 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 4.2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 100.2 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 4.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.8 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
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...
5
99.9 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
100.2 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
65.7 mi
1h 26m
Ocean Highway
17.4 mi
25m
Highway 17
7 mi
8m
Meeting Street Road
3.1 mi
4m
US 501
2 mi
3m
Church Street
1.3 mi
2m
US Highway 17 Bypass South
1.2 mi
1m
Carner Avenue
0.8 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 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 BeachUse 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
3.4 mi·4 min·US Highway 17 Bypass South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 501 South: Downtown Myrtle Beach
16
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
18
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
19
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
20
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
21
Arrive at 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.1 miles from North Charleston, SC, or about 1h 9m 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near 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 100.2 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from North Charleston, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 50.1 mi from North Charleston, SC
· 1h 9m into the drive
The midpoint is around 50.1 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 Myrtle Beach, SC
The final approach into 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 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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.67 one way
$31.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.13
$34.27
premium
$4.70
$18.54
$37.09
diesel
$5.61
$22.12
$44.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.52
$4.81
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
EV Truck/SUV
40.1
0
$14.03
$6.41
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
North Charleston, SC
Late night
in North Charleston on Saturday
Local time
5:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
5:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Georgetown, SC
50 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
26 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 18m 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 Myrtle Beach, SC covers 100.2 miles and takes about 2h 18m 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 50.1 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 $15.67 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 100.2 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 4.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.8 miles (US 17): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from North Charleston, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
