Origin
Northlake, SC
Afternoon in Northlake on Tuesday
Local time
1:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Northlake, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC
Data updated 3 hours ago
Drive Time
5h 22m
Distance
261.1 mi
420 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 9m
★
6 AM
5h 22m
8 AM
5h 49m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northlake, SC
Luiz Fernando Maciel
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Northlake, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 261.1 miles and takes about 5h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, I 26, US 501 Business for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.4 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.79 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
130.5 miles from Northlake, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 5h 22m highway drive covering 261.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 79.4 miles on I 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 79.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near I 85.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 261.1 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 1.5 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.2 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
12.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward SC 8: Pelzer, Easley
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.
Exit 32
Toward SC 8: Pelzer, Easley
5
33.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
111.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 79.4 mi | 1h 29m |
| I 26 | 55.2 mi | 1h |
| US 501 Business | 41.9 mi | 55m |
| Golden Strip Freeway | 22.9 mi | 24m |
| West Palmetto Street | 22.6 mi | 32m |
| I 85 | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Highway 418 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Highway 8 East | 3.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Northlake, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on Edgewater Way
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Edgewater Way
2
Turn right onto US 178
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Highway
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
4
Merge onto I 85
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 32
Toward SC 8: Pelzer, Easley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
At end of road, turn right onto SC 8
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Easley Highway
7
Continue on SC 8
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
8
Continue on SC 8
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lebby Street
9
Continue on SC 8
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 8 East
10
Continue on SC 418
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Highway 418
11
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Milacron Drive
12
Continue on SC 418
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
McCarter Road
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
14
Merge onto I 385
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Golden Strip Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 26
55 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 26
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto I 20
79 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi
·
32 min
·
West Palmetto Street
19
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
SC 576
20
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi
·
55 min
·
US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
21
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft
·
14 sec
·
8th Avenue North
23
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Kings Highway
24
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft
·
11 sec
·
5th Avenue North
25
Turn right
196 ft
·
14 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 130.5 miles from Northlake, SC, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.5 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
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 Northlake, 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 Northlake, SC
This is one driving day of about 261.1 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Northlake, 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 I 20 for about 79.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 130.5 mi from Northlake, SC · 2h 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 130.5 miles from Northlake, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.79 one way
$83.57 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
91 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $45.53 | $91.06 |
| premium | $4.78 | $49.12 | $98.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $58.01 | $116.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.3 | 0 | $27.42 | $12.53 |
| Efficient EV | 65.3 | 0 | $22.85 | $10.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.4 | 1 | $36.55 | $16.71 |
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Myrtle Beach, SC
Afternoon in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday
Local time
1:29 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
21 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
5h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Northlake, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC covers 261.1 miles and takes about 5h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, I 26, US 501 Business. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 130.5 miles from Northlake, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.79 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 261.1 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 1.5 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.2 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Northlake, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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