Origin
Surfside Beach, SC
Morning in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surfside Beach, SC to Columbia, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
142.7 mi
230 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 4m
★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 40m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 26m
5 PM
3h 39m
8 PM
3h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Columbia, SC covers 142.7 miles and takes about 3h 16m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Broad Street, East Myrtle Beach Highway, Highway 378 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36.2 miles on Broad Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.32 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
71.3 miles from Surfside Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 16m drive with frequent turns across 142.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broad Street is the longest continuous segment at about 36.2 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near SC 544 / Dick Pond Road.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 3h 16m with 23% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (SC 544 / Dick Pond Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 15.7 miles (SC 544): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
SC 544 / Dick Pond Road
Turn left onto SC 544 / Dick Pond Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
15.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road
Turn sharp left onto SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
15.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
SC 544
Turn right onto SC 544
Navigation decision point
4
96 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
US 378 / Robert E Graham Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 378 / Robert E Graham Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
102.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
|
US 76; US 378 / Broad Street
Merge onto US 76; US 378 / Broad Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Street | 36.2 mi | 45m |
| East Myrtle Beach Highway | 36.1 mi | 43m |
| Highway 378 | 22.9 mi | 32m |
| Dick Pond Road | 13.3 mi | 23m |
| Myrtle Beach Highway | 13 mi | 16m |
| Robert E Graham Freeway | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Clarence Coker Highway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| US 17 Business | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Broad Street
— 36.2 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Columbia, SC.
1
Start on Surfside Drive
72 ft
·
7 sec
·
Surfside Drive
2
Continue on Surfside Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Surfside Drive
3
Turn right onto US 17 Business
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 17 Business
4
Turn left onto SC 544
13 mi
·
23 min
·
Dick Pond Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn sharp left onto SC 544
440 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Cox Ferry Road
6
Turn right onto SC 544
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
SC 544
7
Turn left onto US 501
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 501 East
8
Continue on US 501
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
9
Turn left onto US 378
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Wright Boulevard
10
Continue on US 378
23 mi
·
32 min
·
Highway 378
11
Continue on US 378
36 mi
·
43 min
·
East Myrtle Beach Highway
12
Continue on US 301; US 378
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
13
Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Clarence Coker Highway
14
Continue on US 378
13 mi
·
16 min
·
Myrtle Beach Highway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 378
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Robert E Graham Freeway
16
Merge onto US 76; US 378
36 mi
·
45 min
·
Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 76; US 378
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Devine Street
18
Continue on US 76; US 378
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Devine Street
19
Turn slight right onto US 76; US 378
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Millwood Avenue
20
Turn left onto US 1; US 76; US 378
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Gervais Street
21
Continue on Gervais Street
234 ft
·
22 sec
·
Gervais Street
22
Arrive at destination
Gervais Street
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 71.3 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.2 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 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 42m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbia, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surfside Beach, 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 Surfside Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 142.7 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Surfside Beach, 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 Broad Street for about 36.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.3 mi from Surfside Beach, SC · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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 71.3 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Columbia, SC
The final approach into Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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
$22.32 one way
$44.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $24.40 | $48.80 |
| premium | $4.70 | $26.41 | $52.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.51 | $63.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.98 | $6.85 |
| Efficient EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.49 | $5.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.1 | 0 | $19.98 | $9.13 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Columbia, SC
Morning in Columbia on Wednesday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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 16m 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 Surfside Beach, SC to Columbia, SC covers 142.7 miles and takes about 3h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broad Street, East Myrtle Beach Highway, Highway 378. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.3 miles from Surfside Beach, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.32 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 Surfside Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is easy. At 3h 16m with 23% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (SC 544 / Dick Pond Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 15.7 miles (SC 544): Navigation decision point.
The route from Surfside Beach, SC to Columbia, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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