Origin
Surfside Beach, SC
Morning in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surfside Beach, SC to Rock Hill, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
169 mi
272 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.
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Rock Hill, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Rock Hill, SC covers 169 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway, Church Street, US 76 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.43 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
84.5 miles from Surfside Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 3h 45m highway drive covering 169 miles, with most of the trip on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and Church Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 73.4 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 21 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 73.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and Church Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near SC 544 / Dick Pond Road.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 45m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 9 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
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
|
Warley Street
Turn right onto Warley Street
Navigation decision point
8
149.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
Take the exit toward SC 215: Monticello Road, Jenkinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68
Toward SC 215: Monticello Road, Jenkinsville
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 Surfside Beach, SC to Rock Hill, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Jenkinsville along the way.
Jenkinsville
149.7 mi in
|
~3h 11m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| J Strom Thurmond Freeway | 73.4 mi | 1h 21m |
| Church Street | 31.2 mi | 39m |
| US 76 | 18.8 mi | 24m |
| Dick Pond Road | 13.3 mi | 23m |
| Monticello Road | 12.6 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 215S | 6.4 mi | 11m |
| SC 576 | 3.2 mi | 3m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
— 73.4 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Rock Hill, 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
73 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 68
Toward SC 215: Monticello Road, Jenkinsville
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto SC 215
10 mi
·
18 min
·
Monticello Road
19
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 215
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Monticello Road
20
Continue on SC 215
6.4 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 215S
21
Arrive at destination
SC 215
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 84.5 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.4 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 84.5 miles or 1h 58m 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 Rock Hill, 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 169 miles and 3h 45m.
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 73.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.5 mi from Surfside Beach, SC · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 84.5 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before J Strom Thurmond Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.4 miles.
Arriving in Rock Hill, SC
The final approach into Rock Hill, 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 Rock Hill, 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
$26.43 one way
$52.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.90 | $57.79 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.28 | $62.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.31 | $74.63 |
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: 59.1 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 | 50.7 | 0 | $17.74 | $8.11 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.79 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.66 | $10.82 |
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
Rock Hill, SC
Morning in Rock Hill on Wednesday
Local time
6:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°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 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 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 Surfside Beach, SC to Rock Hill, SC covers 169 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway, Church Street, US 76. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.5 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 $26.43 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 is a straightforward 3h 45m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
On the drive from Surfside Beach, SC to Rock Hill, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Jenkinsville along the way.
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