If you are planning a trip from Batesburg-Leesville to the coast, you can expect a straightforward 183.9-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 50 minutes. Because the drive is relatively compact, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, though you may prefer to stay overnight once you reach the beach. You will primarily navigate via I-20 and US-501 Business, with a total estimated fuel cost of $29. This route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region of South Carolina, making it a familiar trek for locals. Since the drive is manageable, you have plenty of flexibility to decide whether to push through in one go or take your time getting to the ocean.
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
91.9 miles from Batesburg-Leesville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
104.4 mi
1h 59m
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
Fairview Road
7 mi
9m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
South Pine Street
1.3 mi
2m
West Columbia Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 104.4 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Batesburg-Leesville, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on North Carolina Avenue
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Carolina Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 1
0.6 mi·1 min·West Columbia Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 178; SC391
0.4 mi·48 sec·South Pine Street
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 178
0.9 mi·1 min·South Pine Street
5
Continue on US 178
7.0 mi·9 min·Fairview Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
7
Merge onto I 20
104 mi·1 hr 59 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
9
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
10
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
11
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
13
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
14
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
15
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 50 minute travel time, aim to depart early to avoid potential congestion as you near the coast. You should plan for at least one stop during the trip to stretch your legs and refresh, especially since the majority of your time is spent behind the wheel on the interstate. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge during that 104.4-mile stretch on I-20, as it is your longest period without a break. Because the trip is short enough to complete in one day, you have the advantage of being able to choose your own pace without needing to worry about a rigid overnight schedule. Always verify local traffic conditions on West Palmetto Street before arriving to ensure a smooth finish to your drive.
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 91.9 miles from Batesburg-Leesville, SC, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 40 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.9 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Batesburg-Leesville, 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 Batesburg-Leesville, SC
This is one driving day of about 183.9 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Batesburg-Leesville, 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 I 20 for about 104.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 183.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|US 178; SC391 / South Pine Street
Turn left onto US 178; SC391 / South Pine Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.3 mi into trip|~14m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
183.5 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
183.8 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
183.8 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.76 one way
$57.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$31.44
$62.89
premium
$4.70
$34.04
$68.07
diesel
$5.61
$40.60
$81.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Batesburg-Leesville, SC
Morning
in Batesburg-Leesville on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
10:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Florence, SC
92 mi in
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
9 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 50m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 50.7
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by its highway-focused nature, with 82% of the journey spent on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 104.4 miles along I-20. As you transition from the interstate toward the coast, the character of the road shifts when you merge onto US-501 Business and West Palmetto Street. While much of the drive involves high-speed interstate travel, the final segments bring you into the local infrastructure of your destination. It is a functional and efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, technical backroads.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and US 501 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 178; SC391 / South Pine Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 50m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 178; SC391 / South Pine Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.5 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 178; SC391 / South Pine Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 183.5 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
