Origin
Surfside Beach, SC
Afternoon in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
3:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Surfside Beach, SC to Cool Spring, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
54m
Distance
32.8 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Cool Spring, SC
Ravi Roshan
Trip Overview
This 32.8-mile drive from Surfside Beach, SC, to Cool Spring, SC, is a quick, 54-minute journey perfect for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Dick Pond Road and Church Street, offering a straightforward travel experience. You won't need an overnight stay, making it ideal for a spontaneous outing or a short excursion. The overall feel is that of a simple, direct connection between two points within South Carolina.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
16.4 miles from Surfside Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a relatively low 15% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 13.3 miles along Dick Pond Road, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. The roads are generally local, meaning you'll navigate through communities and potentially encounter more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; it's more about a steady progression through the South Carolina landscape via its network of secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dick Pond Road is the longest continuous segment at about 13.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 7 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 7 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
5
27.8 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
28.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Horry Road
At end of road, turn left onto Horry Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dick Pond Road | 13.3 mi | 23m |
| Church Street | 10.4 mi | 15m |
| Horry Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| US 17 Business | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Highway 501 East | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Salem Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| SC 319 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Surfside Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Dick Pond Road
— 13.3 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Cool Spring, 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
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Church Street
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
10
At end of road, turn left onto Horry Road
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Horry Road
11
Turn left onto Salem Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Salem Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto SC 319
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
SC 319
13
Turn slight right onto Lela J Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Lela J Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Lela J Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 54-minute duration, this route offers significant flexibility. You can leave whenever it suits you, as there are no pressing time constraints. With only 32.8 miles to cover, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel stops, though the $5 fuel cost is a good indicator of minimal expenditure. Since there are no designated stops, you can easily add brief pauses for rest or to take in your surroundings. A specific tip: pay close attention to the road names as you transition between Dick Pond Road and Church Street to ensure you’re following the most direct path.
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 16.4 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.3 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 32.8 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.4 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cool Spring, 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 32.8 miles and 54m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Dick Pond Road for about 13.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.4 mi from Surfside Beach, SC · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cool Spring, SC
The final approach into Cool Spring, 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 Cool Spring, 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
$5.13 one way
$10.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.61 | $11.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.07 | $12.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.24 | $14.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Cool Spring, SC
Afternoon in Cool Spring on Wednesday
Local time
3:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
54m 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 Cool Spring, SC covers 32.8 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dick Pond Road, Church Street, Horry Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.4 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 $5.13 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 is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 7 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.
The route from Surfside Beach, SC to Cool Spring, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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