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Trip from Rock Hill, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC

Drive Time

3h 47m

Distance

176.6 mi

284 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

21 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 35m ★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 13m
10 AM
3h 56m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m

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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Downtown Rock Hill, SC, SC

Rock Hill, SC

Trajita Daimari

town in Georgetown County and Horry County, South Carolina, United States

Murrells Inlet, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 20, US Highway 521, Ocean Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.9 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.26 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

88.3 miles from Rock Hill, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 47m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 31 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 28.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near Buckner Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (Buckner Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

4
19.2 mi into trip | ~33m in | Buckner Road

Turn left onto Buckner Road

Navigation decision point

4
19.3 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Florence

Navigation decision point

Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
19.5 mi into trip | ~34m in | I 20

Merge onto I 20

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48.4 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward US 521: Sumter, Camden

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 98 Toward US 521: Sumter, Camden
5
176.3 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in | US 17 BUS / US 17 Business

At end of road, turn left onto US 17 BUS / US 17 Business

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Rock Hill, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Camden along the way.

Camden

48.4 mi in | ~1h 7m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 20 28.9 mi 33m
US Highway 521 26.8 mi 30m
Ocean Highway 17.4 mi 25m
Manning Road 15.1 mi 17m
Greeleyville Highway 14.2 mi 16m
Monticello Road 12.8 mi 22m
Highmarket Street 9.4 mi 13m
Camden Highway 8.1 mi 9m
Longest stretch: I 20 — 28.9 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rock Hill, SC and Murrells Inlet, SC.

1

Start on SC 215

6.4 mi · 11 min · State Highway 215S
2

Continue on SC 215

13 mi · 22 min · Monticello Road
3

Turn left onto Buckner Road

338 ft · 8 sec · Buckner Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5

Merge onto I 20

29 mi · 33 min · I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 45 sec
Exit 98 Toward US 521: Sumter, Camden Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Merge onto US 521

7.0 mi · 7 min · Sumter Highway
8

Continue on US 521

6.2 mi · 7 min · Camden Highway
9

Continue on US 521

7.6 mi · 8 min · Thomas Sumter Highway
10

Continue on US 521

1.9 mi · 2 min · Camden Highway
11

Turn slight left onto US 521; US 76 Business

0.8 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
12

Turn slight right onto US 521

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bultman Drive
13

Continue on US 521

3.6 mi · 4 min · North Guignard Drive
14

Continue on US 521

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Guignard Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn right onto US 521

15 mi · 17 min · Manning Road
16

Continue on US 521

0.7 mi · 50 sec · North Church Street
17

Turn left onto US 521; SC 261

0.4 mi · 57 sec · East Boyce Street
18

Continue on US 521; SC 261

14 mi · 16 min · Greeleyville Highway
19

Continue on US 521

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Society Street
20

Continue on US 521

0.8 mi · 52 sec · Society Street
21

Continue on US 521

27 mi · 30 min · US Highway 521
22

Continue on US 521 Bus

1.9 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
23

Continue on US 521 Bus

7.7 mi · 9 min · Georgetown Highway
24

Continue on US 17 Alternate; US 521

9.4 mi · 13 min · Highmarket Street
25

Keep slight left at fork onto US 17 Alternate

1.5 mi · 2 min · Church Street
26

Continue on US 17

0.3 mi · 25 sec · L. H. Siau Bridge
27

Continue on US 17

17 mi · 25 min · Ocean Highway
28

Continue on US 17

1.8 mi · 2 min · Highway 17
29

Turn right onto S-22-62

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Wachesaw Road
30

At end of road, turn left onto US 17 BUS

0.3 mi · 56 sec · US 17 Business
31

Arrive at destination

US 17 BUS

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 88.3 miles from Rock Hill, SC, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.9 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 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 88.3 miles or 1h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Murrells Inlet, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Rock Hill, 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 Rock Hill, SC

This is one driving day of about 176.6 miles and 3h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rock Hill, 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 28.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 88.3 mi from Rock Hill, SC · 1h 55m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

88 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

Charlotte, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Charlotte, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 88.3 miles from Rock Hill, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Murrells Inlet, SC

The final approach into Murrells Inlet, 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 Murrells Inlet, 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.

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

National Park

Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...

22 mi from route ~54 min detour Free near mile 30.4
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.26 one way

$56.53 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $30.79 $61.59
premium $4.78 $33.22 $66.44
diesel $5.64 $39.23 $78.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

21 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Shoney's - Tesla Supercharger

Manning, SC

Tesla

60 DCFC

Columbia, SC - Harbison Boulevard - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

16 DCFC

Village at Sandhill - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lowes Foods of Forest Acres - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

11 DCFC

Cracker Barrel - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hilton Garden Inn Columbia Northeast - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Walmart 1164 (Columbia, SC)

Columbia, SC

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Flying J Travel Center 712

Columbia, SC

eVgo Network

4 DCFC

Tesla: 6 Non-Networked: 4 ChargePoint Network: 4 Electrify America: 1 eVgo Network: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 Blink Network: 1 EV Connect: 1 EVGATEWAY: 1 RED_E: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53 0 $18.54 $8.48
Efficient EV 44.2 0 $15.45 $7.06
EV Truck/SUV 70.6 0 $24.72 $11.30

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Rock Hill, SC

Afternoon in Rock Hill on Monday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Murrells Inlet, SC

Afternoon in Murrells Inlet on Monday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°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

17 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

3h 47m 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 Rock Hill, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC covers 176.6 miles and takes about 3h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, US Highway 521, Ocean Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.3 miles from Rock Hill, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.26 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 176.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.2 miles (Buckner Road): Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.5 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Rock Hill, SC to Murrells Inlet, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Camden along the way.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Murrells Inlet, SC to Rock Hill, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

180.1 mi 3h 10m

Continue From Murrells Inlet, SC

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