Origin
Lake City, SC
Morning in Lake City on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake City, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
60.6 mi
97 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake City, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 60.6-mile drive from Lake City, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is a prime candidate for a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes. The majority of your journey, 93%, will be on highways, primarily utilizing US 378 and Highway 501 East. With an estimated fuel cost of just $9, this route offers an economical way to get from one Southeast destination to another. The overall feel is a functional, highway-focused progression, ideal for those who want to reach their destination efficiently without extensive detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 378 | 43.8 mi | 57m |
| Highway 501 East | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| US 501 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Church Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Myrtle Beach Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North Church Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Kings Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 378
— 43.8 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake City, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on South Acline Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
South Acline Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 378 Business; SC 341
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 378 Business
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Church Street
4
Continue on US 378 Business
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Myrtle Beach Highway
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 378
44 mi
·
57 min
·
US 378
6
Turn right onto US 501; US 701
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
7
Continue on US 501
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 501 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft
·
14 sec
·
8th Avenue North
10
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Kings Highway
11
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft
·
11 sec
·
5th Avenue North
12
Turn right
196 ft
·
14 sec
13
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.3 miles from Lake City, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 60.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street
Turn right onto US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 378 Business / North Church Street
Turn left onto US 378 Business / North Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.48 one way
$18.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.36 | $20.72 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.22 | $22.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.2 | 0 | $8.48 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Johnsonville, SC
30 mi in
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
16 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 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this trip, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 43.8 miles on US 378, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to Highway 501 East and then US 501, the character remains largely that of a main artery, designed for straightforward travel. This isn't a winding, scenic byway, but rather a direct path connecting your starting point to the coast.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.8 mi on US 378.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 378 and Highway 501 East. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 378 Business / North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.2 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 60.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.8 miles on US 378. 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 0.1 miles (US 378 Business; SC 341 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 378 Business / North Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 60.2 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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