If you are planning a quick getaway from Darlington to Myrtle Beach, you can expect a manageable 77.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach the coast without the need for an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $12 for fuel makes this an economical excursion within South Carolina. Since you are traveling entirely within the Southeast region, the transitions between towns feel familiar and straightforward. While this isn't a long-haul trek, it offers a practical way to head east for a change of scenery. Whether you are driving for business or leisure, this trip is short enough to fit easily into a weekend schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Darlington, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
East Palmetto Street
18.9 mi
24m
South Main Street
5 mi
6m
West Lucas Street
4.6 mi
7m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
East Cheves Street
0.9 mi
1m
Pearl Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 501 Business
— 41.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Darlington, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on Pearl Street
0.4 mi·41 sec·Pearl Street
2
Turn right onto US 52 Business
5.0 mi·6 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on US 52
4.6 mi·7 min·West Lucas Street
4
Continue on South Church Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Church Street
5
Turn left onto East Cheves Street
0.9 mi·1 min·East Cheves Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 76
19 mi·24 min·East Palmetto Street
7
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
8
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
11
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
12
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
13
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this 77.9-mile route is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time to avoid local traffic. Although the trip is only about 1 hour and 38 minutes, it is wise to ensure your fuel tank is ready before you leave, given the $12 estimated cost. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops since the duration is short, but keeping a few snacks on hand is always a good practice for local navigation. Pay close attention to the turn-heavy nature of the roads; since there are no highway segments, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersections. A great tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation app running, as the reliance on local streets like West Lucas and South Church requires constant awareness of your upcoming turns.
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 38.7 miles from Darlington, SC, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.9 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 17 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
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 Darlington, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Darlington, SC
This is one driving day of about 77.5 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Darlington, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 501 Business for about 41.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 77.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|US 52 Business / South Main Street
Turn right onto US 52 Business / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
10.2 mi into trip|~15m in|East Cheves Street
Turn left onto East Cheves Street
Navigation decision point
5
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
77.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.12 one way
$24.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.25
$26.50
premium
$4.70
$14.34
$28.69
diesel
$5.61
$17.11
$34.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.3
0
$8.14
$3.72
Efficient EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
EV Truck/SUV
31
0
$10.85
$4.96
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Darlington, SC
Late night
in Darlington on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
27 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
1h 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through local corridors like South Main Street, West Lucas Street, and South Church Street to reach your destination. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on South Main Street, you should be prepared for frequent turns and a slower, more deliberate pace. This is a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention as you transition between local roads. The lack of highway segments means you will spend the entire 1 hour and 38 minutes navigating surface streets and local infrastructure.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.9 mi on US 501 Business.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 501 Business and East Palmetto Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 52 Business / South Main Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Darlington, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is easy. At 1h 45m with 61% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 52 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.2 miles (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.1 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Myrtle Beach is a major tourist destination and the central focus of the Grand Strand coast of South Carolina. It is widely known for its wide beaches, numerous golf courses, seafood restaurants, and outlet-style shopping, as well as one of the highest concentrations of miniature golf courses you'll find anywhere. A popular spring break destination, Myrtle Beach is heavily developed and crowded, in contrast to other Southern beaches, such as the Outer Banks in North Carolina, and attracts a lot of tourists from other Southern states or "Snowbirds" from the North, who may own a condominium or timeshare along the coast.
The longest stretch is about 41.9 miles on US 501 Business. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 52 Business / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.2 miles (East Cheves Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.1 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Myrtle Beach, SC before heading back.
