Origin
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Evening in North Myrtle Beach on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Garden City Beach, SC
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
45m
Distance
28.8 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 42m
★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 53m
8 PM
0h 43m
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 Garden City Beach, SC covers 28.8 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hillside Drive South, 14th Avenue South, Highway 17 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.50 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
14.4 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 45m drive with frequent turns across 28.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hillside Drive 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Garden City Beach, SC is easy. At 45m 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 Garden City Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hillside Drive South | — | — |
| 14th Avenue South | — | — |
| Highway 17 South | — | — |
| North Kings Highway | — | — |
| Highway 17 | — | — |
| Garden City Connector | — | — |
| Atlantic Avenue | — | — |
| South Waccamaw Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Hillside Drive South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Myrtle Beach, SC and Garden City Beach, SC.
1
Start on 6th Avenue South
305 ft
·
14 sec
·
6th Avenue South
2
Turn left onto Hillside Drive South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hillside Drive South
3
Turn right onto 14th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
14th Avenue South
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 17 South
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 17 South
5
Continue on North Kings Highway
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Kings Highway
6
Turn straight onto Highway 17
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway 17
7
Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 17 Bypass South
8
Continue on Highway 17
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 17
9
Turn left onto Garden City Connector
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
Garden City Connector
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Garden City Connector
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
Garden City Connector
11
Exit the roundabout onto Garden City Connector
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Garden City Connector
12
Turn right
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
13
Turn left onto Atlantic Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Atlantic Avenue
14
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Waccamaw Drive
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Waccamaw Drive
15
Turn right onto Cedar Avenue
302 ft
·
13 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
16
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.4 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 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 28.8 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.4 miles or 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garden City Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Day 1
Settle into the route from North Myrtle Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 28.8 miles and 45m.
At 28.8 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.4 mi from North Myrtle Beach, SC · 22m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.4 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Garden City Beach, SC
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Garden City Beach, SC if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.50 one way
$9.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.92 | $9.85 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.33 | $10.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.36 | $12.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Garden City Beach, SC
Evening in Garden City Beach on Wednesday
Local time
5:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
45m 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 Garden City Beach, SC covers 28.8 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hillside Drive South, 14th Avenue South, Highway 17 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.4 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 $4.50 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.
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Garden City Beach, SC is easy. At 45m 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 Garden City Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Garden City Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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