Origin
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
165.9 mi
267 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC covers 165.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 17 South, Robert Edge Parkway, US 501 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.94 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
83 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 165.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 44m drive with frequent turns across 165.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 17 South is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 2h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 17 South | — | — |
| Robert Edge Parkway | — | — |
| US 501 | — | — |
| Carolina Bays Parkway | — | — |
| SC 22 | — | — |
| SC 22 West | — | — |
| Veterans Highway | — | — |
| US 501 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 17 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Myrtle Beach, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on 6th Avenue South
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US Highway 17 South
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US Highway 17 South
3
Turn left onto Robert Edge Parkway
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Robert Edge Parkway
4
Turn left onto SC 31 South: US 501, Myrtle Beach
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
SC 31 South: US 501, Myrtle Beach
5
Merge slight left onto Carolina Bays Parkway
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Carolina Bays Parkway
6
Take the exit slight right toward SC 22: Myrtle Beach, Conway
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
SC 22: Myrtle Beach, Conway
7
Keep slight right to continue on SC 22 West: Conway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
SC 22 West: Conway
8
Merge slight left onto Veterans Highway
26 mi
·
30 min
·
Veterans Highway
9
Keep slight right to continue on US 501 North: Aynor, Marion
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
US 501 North: Aynor, Marion
10
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
24 min
11
Turn straight
3.2 mi
·
3 min
12
Continue straight
6.7 mi
·
7 min
13
Continue straight
12 mi
·
16 min
14
Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
East Cheves Street
15
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Warley Street
16
Turn left onto West Evans Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
17
Turn right onto West David H McLeod Boulevard
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West David H McLeod Boulevard
18
Continue on J Strom Thurmond Freeway
69 mi
·
1 hr 15 min
·
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
19
Take the exit slight right toward SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
SC 277 South: Downtown, Columbia
20
Merge slight left onto I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
21
Continue on Bull Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Bull Street
22
Turn right onto Gervais Street
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Gervais Street
23
Continue on Gervais Street
233 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
24
Arrive at your 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83 miles or 1h 22m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, 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 165.9 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83 mi from North Myrtle Beach, SC · 1h 22m 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia, SC
The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.94 one way
$51.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
58 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.37 | $56.73 |
| premium | $4.70 | $30.70 | $61.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.63 | $73.26 |
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: 58 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 | 49.8 | 0 | $17.42 | $7.96 |
| Efficient EV | 41.5 | 0 | $14.52 | $6.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.23 | $10.62 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Columbia, SC
Late night in Columbia on Saturday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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 44m 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 Columbia, SC covers 165.9 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 17 South, Robert Edge Parkway, US 501. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83 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 $25.94 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.
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 2h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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