The drive from Sumter, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 109.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 378, Carolina Bays Parkway, Highway 501 East for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.7 miles on US 378.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.11 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.
Midpoint
54.7 miles from Sumter, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 12m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 25m. Total distance: 109.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 25m highway drive covering 109.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 378 and Carolina Bays Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.7 miles on US 378.
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.
US 378 is the longest continuous segment at about 76.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 378 and Carolina Bays Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 88.8 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 88.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
88.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward SC 31: Georgetown, North Myrtle Beach
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.
Toward SC 31: Georgetown, North Myrtle Beach
9
89 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SC 31 North: Dick Scobee Road, Forestbrook Road, North Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward SC 31 North: Dick Scobee Road, Forestbro...
7
89.2 mi into trip|~2h in
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 31 North: North Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward SC 31 North: North Myrtle Beach
5
89.9 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|SC 31 / Carolina Bays Parkway
Merge onto SC 31 / Carolina Bays Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
108.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m in|S-26-358 / 6th Avenue South
Turn left onto S-26-358 / 6th Avenue South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Sumter, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.
Myrtle Beach
88.8 mi in|~1h 59m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 378
76.7 mi
1h 40m
Carolina Bays Parkway
16.5 mi
19m
Highway 501 East
7.2 mi
11m
Myrtle Beach Highway
2.6 mi
4m
Robert Edge Parkway
1.7 mi
2m
Church Street
1.5 mi
2m
East Liberty Street
0.8 mi
1m
6th Avenue South
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 378
— 76.7 mi, about 1h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumter, SC and North Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on US 76 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·East Liberty Street
2
Turn slight right onto SC 763
2.6 mi·4 min·Myrtle Beach Highway
3
Continue on US 378
77 mi·1 hr 40 min·US 378
4
Turn right onto US 501; US 701
1.5 mi·2 min·Church Street
5
Continue on US 501
7.2 mi·11 min·Highway 501 East
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward SC 31: Georgetown, North Myrtle BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward SC 31 North: Dick Scobee Road, Forestbrook Road, North Myrtle BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·48 sec
Toward SC 31 North: North Myrtle BeachUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto SC 31
17 mi·19 min·Carolina Bays Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Robert Edge Pkwy: North Myrtle Beach
11
Turn right onto Robert Edge Parkway
1.7 mi·2 min·Robert Edge Parkway
12
Turn right onto US 17
0.3 mi·43 sec·US Highway 17 South
13
Turn left onto S-26-358
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue South
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
S-26-358
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 54.7 miles from Sumter, SC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.7 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 24 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.7 miles or 1h 12m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sumter, 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 Sumter, SC
This is one driving day of about 109.4 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Sumter, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 378 for about 76.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.7 mi from Sumter, SC
· 1h 12m into the drive
The midpoint is around 54.7 miles from Sumter, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in North Myrtle Beach, SC
The final approach into North 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 North Myrtle Beach, 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
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.11 one way
$34.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.71
$37.41
premium
$4.70
$20.25
$40.50
diesel
$5.61
$24.15
$48.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.8
0
$11.49
$5.25
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.57
$4.38
EV Truck/SUV
43.8
0
$15.32
$7.00
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Sumter, SC
Morning
in Sumter on Saturday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
6:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
32 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 25m 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 Sumter, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 109.4 miles and takes about 2h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 378, Carolina Bays Parkway, Highway 501 East. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.7 miles from Sumter, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.11 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 88.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Sumter, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
