Drive or Fly: Ridgeland, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for HHH–MYR. At 194 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 53m

Distance

194 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

78 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 4m

18m in the air

Air Distance

147 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ridgeland, SC → HHH 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MYR → Myrtle Beach, SC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Ridgeland, SC HHH — Hilton Head Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Myrtle Beach, SC MYR — Myrtle Beach International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HHH and MYR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 8m

1h 43m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Palmetto

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ridgeland, SC → Yemassee Amtrak 24m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 103m

Arrival 10m

Kingstree Amtrak Station → Myrtle Beach, SC 81m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Yemassee Amtrak 16 mi, ~24m drive

To Kingstree Amtrak Station 54 mi, ~81m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 53m	3h 4m	4h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$126	$18
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

194 mi 3h 53m

via US 17, US 301; US 378, US 378

Shortest (+1 min)

171.2 mi 3h 54m

via US 17, US Highway 17 Bypass South

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ridgeland, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.