If you are planning a quick getaway from Hartsville to the coast, this 90.8-mile drive is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 3 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations unless you prefer a slower pace. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. The route relies on a combination of US 501 Business, East Palmetto Street, and South Governor Williams Highway. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that transitions you efficiently from the interior of South Carolina to the beach, making it an ideal choice for travelers who want to maximize their time at the destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.4 miles from Hartsville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
East Palmetto Street
18.9 mi
24m
South Governor Williams Highway
5.5 mi
6m
Harry Byrd Highway
4.7 mi
5m
West Lucas Street
4.6 mi
7m
East Bobo Newsome Highway
4.3 mi
4m
South 4th Street
3.9 mi
6m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 501 Business
— 41.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartsville, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on US 15 Business
64 ft·6 sec·South 5th Street
2
Turn right onto SC 151 Business
0.2 mi·31 sec·East Carolina Avenue
3
Turn right onto SC 151 Business
3.9 mi·6 min·South 4th Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto SC 151
4.3 mi·4 min·East Bobo Newsome Highway
5
Continue on SC 34; SC 151
4.7 mi·5 min·Harry Byrd Highway
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
7
Merge onto US 52; US 401
5.5 mi·6 min·South Governor Williams Highway
8
Continue on US 52
4.6 mi·7 min·West Lucas Street
9
Continue on South Church Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Church Street
10
Turn left onto East Cheves Street
0.9 mi·1 min·East Cheves Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 76
19 mi·24 min·East 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
Because this is a manageable 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave early if you want to beat potential traffic as you approach the coastal region, as the route contains no scheduled stops. Since there are no designated stops on the primary path, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out, keeping that $15 fuel estimate in mind for your planning. You can easily complete the entire 90.8 miles in one go, but stay alert during the 41.9-mile stretch on US 501 Business where road conditions remain constant for an extended period. Use the simplicity of the route to your advantage by focusing on your arrival time at the beach rather than worrying about complex navigation.
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 45.4 miles from Hartsville, SC, or about 1h 1m 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 20 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.4 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m
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 Hartsville, 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 Hartsville, SC
This is one driving day of about 90.8 miles and 2h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Hartsville, 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 90.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 151 Business / East Carolina Avenue
Turn right onto SC 151 Business / East Carolina Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 151 Business / South 4th Street
Turn right onto SC 151 Business / South 4th Street
Navigation decision point
5
90.5 mi into trip|~2h 2m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
90.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
90.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.20 one way
$28.40 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.53
$31.05
premium
$4.70
$16.81
$33.61
diesel
$5.61
$20.05
$40.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.53
$4.36
Efficient EV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
EV Truck/SUV
36.3
0
$12.71
$5.81
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Hartsville, SC
Morning
in Hartsville on Sunday
Local time
6:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Marion, SC
45 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
17 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
2h 3m 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?
This trip offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local roads with highway stretches to keep the journey engaging. About 52% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm as you navigate toward the coast. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 41.9 miles on US 501 Business, which allows for consistent cruising. As you move away from Hartsville and approach Myrtle Beach, the road character shifts from smaller local corridors to more established highway segments. Expect a functional drive that requires your attention on the transition points between these different road types.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 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?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 151 Business / East Carolina Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 151 Business / East Carolina Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SC 151 Business / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 90.5 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
216 ft25 ft
Total Climb
108 ft
Total Descent
299 ft
Highest Point
216 ft
Elevation Range
191 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 90.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
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, 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: near the start (SC 151 Business / East Carolina Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (SC 151 Business / South 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 90.5 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.
