Origin
Rock Hill, SC
Morning in Rock Hill on Wednesday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Rock Hill, SC to Surfside Beach, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
168.7 mi
271 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rock Hill, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Surfside Beach, SC covers 168.7 miles and takes about 3h 45m 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 501 Business, West Palmetto Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75 miles on I 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.38 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
84.3 miles from Rock Hill, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 168.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 20 and US 501 Business. The longest continuous stretch is about 75 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 14 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 75 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 501 Business. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 19.2 miles in near Buckner Road.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Surfside Beach, SC is easy. At 3h 45m with 78% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 7 key pointsThese 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.
5
152.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 16m in
|
SC 544
Turn right onto SC 544
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
168 mi into trip
|
~3h 43m in
|
Surfside Drive
Turn left onto Surfside Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 20 | 75 mi | 1h 24m |
| US 501 Business | 32.7 mi | 41m |
| West Palmetto Street | 22.6 mi | 32m |
| SC 544 | 13.5 mi | 23m |
| Monticello Road | 12.8 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 215S | 6.4 mi | 11m |
| SC 576 | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| US 17 Business | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 75 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rock Hill, SC and Surfside Beach, 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
75 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi
·
32 min
·
West Palmetto Street
7
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
SC 576
8
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
33 mi
·
41 min
·
US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto SC 544
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
SC 544
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on SC 544
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
SC 544
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn straight onto SC 544
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
SC 544
12
Turn right onto US 17 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 17 Business
13
Turn left onto Surfside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Surfside Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Surfside Drive
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 84.3 miles from Rock Hill, SC, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.3 miles or 1h 47m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surfside Beach, 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 168.7 miles and 3h 45m.
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 75 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.3 mi from Rock Hill, SC · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 84.3 miles from Rock Hill, 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 75 miles.
Arriving in Surfside Beach, SC
The final approach into Surfside 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 Surfside 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
$26.38 one way
$52.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.85 | $57.69 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.22 | $62.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.25 | $74.49 |
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: 59 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.71 | $8.10 |
| Efficient EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.76 | $6.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.5 | 0 | $23.62 | $10.80 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Surfside Beach, SC
Morning in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
11 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
3h 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 Rock Hill, SC to Surfside Beach, SC covers 168.7 miles and takes about 3h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 20, US 501 Business, West Palmetto Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.3 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 $26.38 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.
The drive from Rock Hill, SC to Surfside Beach, SC is easy. At 3h 45m with 78% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
The route from Rock Hill, SC to Surfside Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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