Lesslie to Myrtle Beach is 171.7 miles and takes about 3h 41m via US 501 Business, Pageland Highway, and East Palmetto Street, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a mix of highway and surface roads for most of the 171.7 miles, making it a straightforward, single-day trip. It's a good option if you're looking for a relatively quick drive to the coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.8 miles from Lesslie, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
Pageland Highway
19.5 mi
22m
East Palmetto Street
18.9 mi
24m
State Hwy 151 Bypass
18.2 mi
20m
West Bobo Newsome Highway
15.1 mi
21m
State Highway 151
10 mi
12m
Catawba River Road
8.8 mi
10m
South Anderson Road
5.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 501 Business
— 41.9 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lesslie, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on Neely Creek Road
406 ft·7 sec·Neely Creek Road
2
Continue on Neely Store Road
391 ft·7 sec·Neely Store Road
3
Turn slight left onto Pantry Drive
0.2 mi·28 sec·Pantry Drive
4
Turn right onto US 21; SC 5
5.7 mi·6 min·South Anderson Road
5
Continue on US 21
8.8 mi·10 min·Catawba River Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
501 ft·9 sec
7
Merge onto Texaco Road
487 ft·12 sec·Texaco Road
8
Turn left onto SC 9
3.7 mi·4 min·Lancaster Highway
9
Continue on SC 9
5.3 mi·6 min·Lancaster Bypass
10
Take the exit onto SC 9
0.1 mi·18 sec·SC 9
11
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
276 ft·7 sec·SC 9
12
Merge onto SC 9
19 mi·22 min·Pageland Highway
13
Turn right onto Tory Road
2.0 mi·4 min·Tory Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business
451 ft·9 sec·Pearl Street
15
Merge onto SC 151
4.8 mi·5 min·State Highway 151
16
Continue on SC 151 Bypass
18 mi·20 min·State Hwy 151 Bypass
17
Continue on SC 151
5.2 mi·6 min·State Highway 151
18
Continue on SC 151
15 mi·21 min·West Bobo Newsome Highway
19
Continue on SC 34; SC 151
4.7 mi·5 min·Harry Byrd Highway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
21
Merge onto US 52; US 401
5.5 mi·6 min·South Governor Williams Highway
22
Continue on US 52
4.6 mi·7 min·West Lucas Street
23
Continue on South Church Street
0.1 mi·20 sec·South Church Street
24
Turn left onto East Cheves Street
0.9 mi·1 min·East Cheves Street
25
At end of road, turn left onto US 76
19 mi·24 min·East Palmetto Street
26
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
27
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
28
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
30
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
31
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
32
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a driving time of just under 4 hours, this trip is easily doable in one day. Leaving Lesslie in the morning should get you to Myrtle Beach with plenty of time to settle in. Consider breaking up the 171.7 miles with a brief stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs. Fuel costs are estimated at $27, so ensure your tank is full before you leave or plan for a fill-up along the way. Given the moderate duration, you have flexibility in your departure time and stop strategy.
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 85.8 miles from Lesslie, SC, or about 1h 45m 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.8 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
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 Lesslie, 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 Lesslie, SC
This is one driving day of about 171.7 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Lesslie, 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 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.2 and 171.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
24.2 mi into trip|~28m in|SC 9
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
45.8 mi into trip|~55m in|SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
At end of road, turn right onto SC 151 Business / Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
5
171.3 mi into trip|~3h 40m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
171.6 mi into trip|~3h 41m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
5
171.6 mi into trip|~3h 41m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.85 one way
$53.70 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.36
$58.72
premium
$4.70
$31.78
$63.56
diesel
$5.61
$37.91
$75.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
Efficient EV
42.9
0
$15.02
$6.87
EV Truck/SUV
68.7
0
$24.04
$10.99
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Lesslie, SC
Afternoon
in Lesslie on Tuesday
Local time
2:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Afternoon
in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday
Local time
2:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Darlington, SC
86 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 41m 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?
About 44% of this 171.7-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter a mixed terrain of highway and surface roads throughout the 3h 41m trip. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 41.9 miles on US 501 Business. Be prepared for transitions between higher-speed highway sections and more local surface streets as you approach your destination.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 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?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.2 miles in near SC 9.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 171.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.2 miles (SC 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.8 miles (SC 151 Business / Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 171.3 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 171.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
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 — we found about 5 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Myrtle Beach, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.2 miles (SC 9): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.8 miles (SC 151 Business / Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 171.3 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
