Traveling from Lyman to Myrtle Beach covers approximately 249.9 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 10 minutes of driving time. Because this journey stays entirely within South Carolina, you will remain within the Southeast region for the duration of the trip. Given the total duration, you can comfortably complete this trek in a single day, making it an efficient option for a quick coastal getaway. With fuel costs estimated at around $40, it is a relatively affordable trip to budget for. Expect a turn-heavy experience as you navigate local roads rather than high-speed interstates. This route is best suited for those who prefer an active driving experience over a simple highway cruise.
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
121.9 miles from Lyman, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
85.9 mi
1h 33m
I 20
79.4 mi
1h 29m
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
Warren H Abernathy Highway
4.4 mi
7m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
Spartanburg Highway
2.3 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 85.9 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lyman, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on SC 292
0.8 mi·2 min·Spartanburg Road
2
Continue on Old Spartanburg Highway
0.2 mi·25 sec·Old Spartanburg Highway
3
Turn left onto Astor Street
303 ft·9 sec·Astor Street
4
Turn right onto US 29
2.3 mi·3 min·Spartanburg Highway
5
Continue on US 29
4.4 mi·7 min·Warren H Abernathy Highway
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 26 East: Columbia
7
Merge onto I 26
86 mi·1 hr 33 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
11
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
12
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
15
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
16
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
17
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize your time at the coast, as the 4-hour and 10-minute drive can easily stretch depending on local traffic conditions. Since you should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, factor that into your total travel time to keep the journey stress-free. Keep your estimated $40 fuel budget handy, but remember to monitor your gas levels closely since local routes may not offer the same frequency of service stations as major interstates. Given the turn-heavy nature of this specific path, prioritize checking your tire pressure before leaving Lyman to ensure a smooth trip. Embracing the flexibility of this local route allows you to adjust your pace as needed throughout the day.
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 121.9 miles from Lyman, SC, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.9 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 54 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.9 miles or 2h 19m 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 55m
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 Lyman, 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 Lyman, SC
This is one driving day of about 243.9 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Lyman, 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 26 for about 85.9 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 8.1 and 243.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.1 mi into trip|~14m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
94 mi into trip|~1h 47m 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
94.3 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
243.5 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
243.8 mi into trip|~4h 54m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.14 one way
$76.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$41.70
$83.41
premium
$4.70
$45.14
$90.28
diesel
$5.61
$53.85
$107.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.2
0
$25.61
$11.71
Efficient EV
61
0
$21.34
$9.76
EV Truck/SUV
97.6
1
$34.15
$15.61
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lyman, SC
Night
in Lyman on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Night
in Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
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
8 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 55m 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.
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 8.4
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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 109.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy, local drive that avoids the monotony of major interstate systems. You will spend your time navigating roads like Old Spartanburg Highway, Astor Street, and Spartanburg Highway, resulting in a highway share of 0%. Because the route relies exclusively on local connectors, your focus will be on maneuvering through various turns rather than maintaining a steady pace on a wide-open expressway. The personality of this drive is hands-on and requires your full attention as you transition from the interior of the state toward the coast. While you won't encounter long, uninterrupted highway stretches, the route offers a consistent, engaging pace that keeps you actively involved behind the wheel.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.9 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 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 55m 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: at 8.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.3 miles (I 20): 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 55m. Total distance: 243.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 85.9 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 8.1 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 94.3 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
