The drive from Mauldin, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC covers 249.6 miles and takes about 4h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 20, I 26, Golden Strip Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.4 miles on I 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.65 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
124.8 miles from Mauldin, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.4 mi
1h 29m
I 26
55.2 mi
1h
Golden Strip Freeway
29.8 mi
32m
Veterans Highway
26.3 mi
30m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
US 501 Business
21 mi
24m
Carolina Bays Parkway
5.1 mi
5m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,135 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,621
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mauldin, SC and North Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on this road
215 ft·18 sec·this road
2
Turn right
117 ft·11 sec
3
Turn right onto US 276
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Main Street
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 276
2.2 mi·3 min·US 276
5
Merge onto I 385
30 mi·32 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 26
55 mi·1 hr·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
10
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
11
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
21 mi·24 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward SC 22 East: North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle BeachUse the right lane.
13
Continue on SC 22
26 mi·30 min·Veterans Highway
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward SC 31 North: Little River, Wilmington
15
Merge onto SC 31
5.1 mi·5 min·Carolina Bays Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Robert Edge Pkwy: North Myrtle Beach
17
Turn right onto Robert Edge Parkway
1.7 mi·2 min·Robert Edge Parkway
18
Turn right onto US 17
0.3 mi·43 sec·US Highway 17 South
19
Turn left onto S-26-358
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue South
Use the left lane.
20
Arrive at destination
S-26-358
Trip Plan
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 124.8 miles from Mauldin, SC, or about 2h 19m 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 55 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.8 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mauldin, 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 Mauldin, SC
This is one driving day of about 249.6 miles and 4h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Mauldin, 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 and 214.1 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
2.7 mi into trip|~4m in|I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
32.5 mi into trip|~36m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
7
214.1 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward SC 22 East: North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward SC 22 East: North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle B...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.65 one way
$79.30 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg87 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$43.24
$86.48
premium
$4.78
$46.97
$93.94
diesel
$6.18
$60.72
$121.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74.9
0
$26.21
$11.98
Efficient EV
62.4
0
$21.84
$9.98
EV Truck/SUV
99.8
1
$34.94
$15.97
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Mauldin, SC
Morning
in Mauldin on Monday
Local time
7:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Sunny
NE 14 to 17 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 11:50AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 9:42AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Destination
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in North Myrtle Beach on Monday
Local time
7:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
N 18 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 11:50AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 9:42AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
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
3 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 52m 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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 103.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
249.6 mi in 4h 52m, mostly highway — 79.4 mi of that is on I 20.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 14 significant decision points across 249.6 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
942 ft7 ft
Total Climb
0 ft
Total Descent
935 ft
Highest Point
942 ft
Elevation Range
935 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mauldin, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Myrtle Beach along the way.
North Myrtle Beach is a small town in South Carolina with approximately 15,000 residents. North Myrtle Beach proudly has two claims to fame. It is the birthplace of South Carolina's state dance, the shag. It is also the hometown of Vanna White of "Wheel of Fortune" fame.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 52m. Total distance: 249.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). 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.
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 North 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.5 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at North Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
