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Trip from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Charleston, SC

Drive Time

2h 36m

Distance

111.6 mi

180 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

14 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 26m ★
6 AM
2h 36m
8 AM
2h 57m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 56m
8 PM
2h 30m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States of America

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Charleston, SC covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Fraser Street, Highway 17, Ocean Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56 miles on North Fraser Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.86 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

55.8 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 111.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Fraser Street is the longest continuous segment at about 56 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (US 17 / Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (US 17 / North Fraser Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South

Turn left onto S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South

Navigation decision point

5
7.9 mi into trip | ~15m in | US 17 / Highway 17

Turn straight onto US 17 / Highway 17 toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left / straight lanes. Toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown
5
50.5 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in | US 17 / North Fraser Street

Turn left onto US 17 / North Fraser Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
109 mi into trip | ~2h 30m in

Take the exit toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street
6
110.9 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in | S-10-107 / Meeting Street

Turn left onto S-10-107 / Meeting Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Towns Along This Route

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

Georgetown

7.9 mi in | ~15m | via US 17

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Fraser Street 56 mi 1h 14m
Highway 17 22.3 mi 27m
Ocean Highway 17.4 mi 25m
North Kings Highway 3.6 mi 6m
US Highway 17 South 3.2 mi 6m
North Highway 17 2.4 mi 3m
Church Street 1.4 mi 2m
US Highway 17 Bypass South 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: North Fraser Street — 56 mi, about 1h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on S-26-358

304 ft · 13 sec · 6th Avenue South
2

Turn left onto S-26-521

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hillside Drive South
3

Turn right onto 14th Avenue South

0.2 mi · 27 sec · 14th Avenue South
4

At end of road, turn left onto US 17

3.2 mi · 6 min · US Highway 17 South
5

Continue on US 17

3.6 mi · 6 min · North Kings Highway
6

Turn straight onto US 17

12 mi · 15 min · Highway 17
Toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown Use the left / straight lanes.
7

Continue on US 17

1.3 mi · 1 min · US Highway 17 Bypass South
8

Continue on US 17

11 mi · 12 min · Highway 17
Use the straight lane.
9

Continue on US 17

17 mi · 25 min · Ocean Highway
10

Continue on US 17

0.3 mi · 25 sec · L. H. Siau Bridge
11

Continue on US 17

1.4 mi · 2 min · Church Street
12

Turn left onto US 17

56 mi · 1 hr 14 min · North Fraser Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on US 17

2.4 mi · 3 min · North Highway 17
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward Morrison Drive, East Bay Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn left onto US 52 Bus

0.5 mi · 1 min · Morrison Drive
16

Turn straight onto East Bay Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Bay Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17

Turn right onto Calhoun Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Calhoun Street
18

Turn left onto S-10-107

0.7 mi · 1 min · Meeting Street
Use the left lane.
19

Turn left onto Broad Street

40 ft · 1 sec · Broad Street
20

Arrive at destination

Broad Street

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 55.8 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.8 miles or 1h 20m 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 Charleston, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North 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 North Myrtle Beach, SC

This is one driving day of about 111.6 miles and 2h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from North 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 North Fraser Street for about 56 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 55.8 mi from North Myrtle Beach, SC · 1h 20m into the drive

Downtown Mount Pleasant, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mount Pleasant, SC

56 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.

Popular next leg

Mount Pleasant, SC to Charleston, SC

7.3 mi · 14m

Pacing Suggestions

Wilmington, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Mount Pleasant, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.8 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Charleston, SC

The final approach into Charleston, 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 Charleston, 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 111.6
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.86 one way

$35.72 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $19.46 $38.92
premium $4.78 $20.99 $41.99
diesel $5.64 $24.79 $49.59

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 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

14 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Coastal Grand Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Myrtle Beach, SC

Tesla

10 DCFC

Barefoot Landing - Tesla Supercharger

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

CBL Coastal Grand Mall (Myrtle Beach, SC)

Myrtle Beach, SC

Electrify America

6 DCFC

CircleK - Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach, SC

CIRCLE_K

4 DCFC

CircleK - North Myrtle Beach, SC

North Myrtle Beach, SC

CIRCLE_K

4 DCFC

CircleK - Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC

CIRCLE_K

4 DCFC

Tidelands Ford

Pawleys Island, SC

RED_E

4 DCFC

PALMETTO EV PALMETTO2

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

2 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 4 CIRCLE_K: 3 Tesla: 2 Non-Networked: 2 Electrify America: 1 Blink Network: 1 RED_E: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.5 0 $11.72 $5.36
Efficient EV 27.9 0 $9.76 $4.46
EV Truck/SUV 44.6 0 $15.62 $7.14

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 16 hours ago

Origin

North Myrtle Beach, SC

Afternoon in North Myrtle Beach on Monday

Local time

4:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Charleston, SC

Afternoon in Charleston on Monday

Local time

4:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°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 36m 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 Myrtle Beach, SC to Charleston, SC covers 111.6 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Fraser Street, Highway 17, Ocean Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.8 miles from North 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 $17.86 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 straightforward 2h 36m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (US 17 / Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (US 17 / North Fraser Street): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Charleston, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Georgetown along the way.

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