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Trip from Surfside Beach, SC to Greenville, SC

Drive Time

5h 6m

Distance

251.7 mi

405 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

28 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 53m ★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 16m
12 PM
5h 13m
3 PM
5h 17m
5 PM
5h 32m
8 PM
4h 58m

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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human settlement in Horry County, South Carolina, United States of America

Surfside Beach, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Greenville, SC covers 251.7 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on J Strom Thurmond Freeway, I 26, Church Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.28 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

125.9 miles from Surfside Beach, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 6m highway drive covering 251.7 miles, with most of the trip on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
J Strom Thurmond Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 76.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 15.6 miles in near SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road.

Route Complexity 6/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 251.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 15.6 miles (SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 15.7 miles (SC 544): Navigation decision point; at 152.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

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

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

5
152.7 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in

Take the exit toward I 26 West

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 64B Toward I 26 West
9
209.2 mi into trip | ~4h 18m in | I 385

Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 51 Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
6
238.8 mi into trip | ~4h 50m in | I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
J Strom Thurmond Freeway 76.4 mi 1h 25m
I 26 54.8 mi 1h
Church Street 31.2 mi 39m
I 385 29.6 mi 32m
US 76 18.8 mi 24m
Dick Pond Road 13.3 mi 23m
Golden Strip Freeway 12.4 mi 14m
SC 576 3.2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: J Strom Thurmond Freeway — 76.4 mi, about 1h 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Greenville, 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

31 mi · 39 min · Church Street
9

Turn straight onto SC 576

3.2 mi · 3 min · SC 576
10

Continue on US 76

6.7 mi · 7 min · US 76
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 76; US 301

12 mi · 16 min · US 76; US 301
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · East Cheves Street
13

Turn right onto Warley Street

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Warley Street
14

Turn left onto S-21-31

2.4 mi · 4 min · West Evans Street
15

Turn right onto I 20 Bus

1.5 mi · 2 min · West David H McLeod Boulevard
16

Continue on I 20 Bus

76 mi · 1 hr 25 min · J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

1.7 mi · 3 min
Exit 64B Toward I 26 West
18

Merge onto I 26; US 76

55 mi · 1 hr · I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 385

30 mi · 32 min · I 385
Exit 51 Toward I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville Use the slight left / straight lanes.
20

Keep slight left at fork onto I 385

12 mi · 14 min · Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Continue on East North Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · East North Street
22

Continue on SC 183

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Beattie Place
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
23

Turn right onto US 29

60 ft · 1 sec · North Church Street
24

Arrive at destination

US 29

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 125.9 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125.9 miles or 2h 44m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenville, 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 251.7 miles and 5h 6m.

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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 76.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 125.9 mi from Surfside Beach, SC · 2h 44m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

126 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

Fayetteville, 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 125.9 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before J Strom Thurmond Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 76.4 miles.

Arriving in Greenville, SC

The final approach into Greenville, 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 Greenville, 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 138.9
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

$40.28 one way

$80.56 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $43.89 $87.78
premium $4.78 $47.35 $94.69
diesel $5.64 $55.92 $111.84

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

28 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Magnolia Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Florence, SC

Tesla

18 DCFC

University Commons - Tesla Supercharger

Conway, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Refuel Market - Tesla Supercharger

Bishopville, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Village at Sandhill - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lowes Foods of Forest Acres - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

11 DCFC

Coastal Grand Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Myrtle Beach, SC

Tesla

10 DCFC

Florence, SC Rechargery Relay - David H McLeod Blvd

Florence, SC

IONNA

8 DCFC

Hilton Garden Inn Columbia Northeast - Tesla Supercharger

Columbia, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 8 ChargePoint Network: 5 EV Connect: 3 Non-Networked: 3 Electrify America: 2 CIRCLE_K: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 2 Blink Network: 1 IONNA: 1 eVgo Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 75.5 0 $26.43 $12.08
Efficient EV 62.9 0 $22.02 $10.07
EV Truck/SUV 100.7 1 $35.24 $16.11

Gas CO2

88 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Surfside Beach, SC

Afternoon in Surfside Beach on Monday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Greenville, SC

Afternoon in Greenville on Monday

Local time

1:29 PM

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

5h 6m 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 Surfside Beach, SC to Greenville, SC covers 251.7 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are J Strom Thurmond Freeway, I 26, Church 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 125.9 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 $40.28 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 251.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 15.6 miles (SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 15.7 miles (SC 544): Navigation decision point; at 152.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Surfside Beach, SC to Greenville, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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