Laurens, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is 215 miles and takes about 4 hours 22 minutes via I 20, I 26, and US 501 Business, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, taking you from the Upstate region to the Grand Strand. It's a straightforward drive that's well-suited for a single day, allowing you to get on the road and reach your destination without too much fuss. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points in the Palmetto State.
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
107.5 miles from Laurens, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.4 mi
1h 29m
I 26
55.2 mi
1h
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
I 385
5.1 mi
5m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
Yarborough Mill Road
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Laurens, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on Courthouse Public Square
44 ft·6 sec·Courthouse Public Square
2
Turn left onto East Public Square
298 ft·15 sec·East Public Square
3
Turn right onto East Laurens Street
260 ft·13 sec·East Laurens Street
4
Turn left onto US 221
1.3 mi·2 min·North Harper Street
5
Continue on US 221
0.7 mi·1 min·Lucas Avenue
6
Turn right onto SC 49
1.8 mi·2 min·Yarborough Mill Road
7
Continue on SC 49
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 49
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 385 South
9
Merge onto I 385
5.1 mi·5 min·I 385
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 26
55 mi·1 hr·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
14
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
15
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
16
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
18
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
19
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
20
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 4 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Myrtle Beach with daylight to spare. While the drive has only one recommended stop, it's wise to take breaks as needed, especially during the longest stretch on I 20. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $34, it's always good practice to fuel up before hitting longer, less populated highway segments. A practical tip for this route is to ensure you have your preferred navigation set for US 501 Business as you approach Myrtle Beach, as this will be your final highway segment into the popular coastal city.
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 107.5 miles from Laurens, SC, or about 2h 3m 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 47 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.5 miles or 2h 3m 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 29m
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 Laurens, 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 Laurens, SC
This is one driving day of about 215 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Laurens, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 65.5 — 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|East Laurens Street
Turn right onto East Laurens Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.9 mi into trip|~9m in|I 385
Merge onto I 385
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
10 mi into trip|~14m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
65.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m 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
65.5 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.62 one way
$67.24 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$36.76
$73.52
premium
$4.70
$39.79
$79.58
diesel
$5.61
$47.47
$94.94
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: 75.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.5
0
$22.58
$10.32
Efficient EV
53.8
0
$18.81
$8.60
EV Truck/SUV
86
1
$30.10
$13.76
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 18, 2026
Origin
Laurens, SC
Late night
in Laurens on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:39 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
2 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 22m 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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 81.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience a significant portion of I 20, including a longest stretch of 79.4 miles, before transitioning to I 26 and finally US 501 Business. Expect mostly smooth sailing on well-maintained highways, making for a consistent driving experience. The profile suggests a drive where speed and efficiency are prioritized, with minimal detours onto slower local roads.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Laurens Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 215 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Laurens Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 385): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 215 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 16 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 0.1 miles (East Laurens Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.9 miles (I 385): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (I 26): 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
