Greenwood, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is 233.5 miles and takes about 4h 47m via I 20, I 26, and US 501 Business, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving from the state's interior to its popular coastline. With 88% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. The total travel time is under five hours, making it a manageable one-day adventure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
116.7 miles from Greenwood, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.4 mi
1h 29m
I 26
53.3 mi
58m
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
US 221
24.2 mi
32m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
Springdale Drive
3.4 mi
4m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,146 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,576
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenwood, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on SC 72 Business
72 ft·8 sec·West Cambridge Avenue
2
Turn left onto SC 72 Business
0.3 mi·34 sec·Grace Street
3
Turn right onto SC 72 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Reynolds Avenue
4
Continue on US 221; SC 72
24 mi·32 min·US 221; SC 72
5
Turn right onto Springdale Drive
3.4 mi·4 min·Springdale Drive
6
Turn right onto SC 72
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 72 East
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
8
Merge onto I 26
53 mi·58 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
12
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
13
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
16
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
17
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
18
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 47m estimated drive time, starting in the morning from Greenwood, SC, will allow you to reach Myrtle Beach with plenty of daylight. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting you can be flexible with when and where you choose to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 79.4-mile stretch on I 20, and consider filling up before that segment if you're concerned. The relatively short duration means you can easily adjust your departure time based on your morning plans.
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 116.7 miles from Greenwood, SC, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 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 51 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.7 miles or 2h 17m 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 49m
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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, SC
This is one driving day of about 233.5 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Greenwood, 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 79.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.3 and 233.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
30.3 mi into trip|~41m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
84 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
233.1 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
233.4 mi into trip|~4h 46m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.47 one way
$68.95 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$37.88
$75.77
premium
$4.49
$41.29
$82.59
diesel
$4.80
$44.09
$88.18
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.52
$11.21
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
EV Truck/SUV
93.4
1
$32.69
$14.94
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Greenwood, SC
Morning
in Greenwood on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 7 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 11:36AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:41AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
S 14 to 18 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 11:36AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 2:41AM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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
5 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
4h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 96.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 88% of the 233.5 miles on faster roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 79.4 miles on I 20 before transitioning to other major arteries. The final leg involves US 501 Business, which may offer a change of pace with more local traffic and exits as you approach Myrtle Beach.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 30.3 miles in near I 26.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Waikiki Village Motel — Historic motel in South Carolina
•Chesterfield Inn — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, listed on the NRHP, now demolished
•Myrtle Beach Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station — historic train station located at Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina
The longest stretch is about 79.4 miles on I 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 30.3 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 84 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
