Traveling from Myrtle Beach to Clinton covers 206.1 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 12 minutes. This trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You can expect to spend approximately $33 on fuel for the journey, making it a relatively budget-friendly transit across South Carolina. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, the climate and general atmosphere remain consistent throughout your drive. Whether you are heading inland for business or personal travel, the route provides a straightforward path across the state. Expect a highway-focused experience that prioritizes efficiency over coastal winding roads.
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
103 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Clinton, SC.
1
Start on this road
69 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left
159 ft·13 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Business
0.1 mi·20 sec·North Kings Highway
4
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
489 ft·21 sec·6th Avenue North
5
Continue on 6th Avenue North
0.2 mi·46 sec·6th Avenue North
6
At end of road, turn right onto Alder Street
154 ft·6 sec·Alder Street
7
Turn left onto US 501
11 mi·16 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·Highway 501 East
9
Continue on US 501
31 mi·39 min·Church Street
10
Turn straight onto SC 576
3.2 mi·3 min·SC 576
11
Continue on US 76
6.7 mi·7 min·US 76
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 76; US 301
12 mi·16 min·US 76; US 301
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn slight right onto East Cheves Street
1.7 mi·3 min·East Cheves Street
14
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·Warley Street
15
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi·4 min·West Evans Street
16
Turn right onto I 20 Bus
1.5 mi·2 min·West David H McLeod Boulevard
17
Continue on I 20 Bus
76 mi·1 hr 25 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
1.7 mi·3 min
Exit 64BToward I 26 West
19
Merge onto I 26; US 76
53 mi·58 min·I 26; US 76
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 54Toward SC 72: ClintonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn left onto SC 72
1.4 mi·1 min·SC 72
22
Turn straight onto North Adair Street
1.1 mi·2 min·North Adair Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto US 76
0.4 mi·34 sec·East Carolina Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
US 76
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one scheduled stop to break up the 4-hour and 12-minute commute. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic congestion as you transition onto the major interstates. Since you have a fuel budget of about $33, consider filling up your tank before leaving the Myrtle Beach area where prices may be more familiar. Because this is a highway-heavy route, stay alert during the 76.4-mile stretch on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, as the monotony of interstate driving can lead to fatigue. Flexibility is your greatest asset here; since the entire trip is only one day, you have plenty of time to adjust your pace if you encounter unexpected road conditions.
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 103 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.4 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 45 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103 miles or 2h 14m 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 Clinton, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 206.1 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Myrtle Beach, 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 J Strom Thurmond Freeway for about 76.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 202.9 — 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|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Alder Street
At end of road, turn right onto Alder Street
Navigation decision point
5
148.2 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 26 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 64B
Toward I 26 West
5
149.9 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|I 26; US 76
Merge onto I 26; US 76
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
202.9 mi into trip|~4h 6m in
Take the exit toward SC 72: Clinton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 54
Toward SC 72: Clinton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.23 one way
$64.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.24
$70.48
premium
$4.70
$38.14
$76.29
diesel
$5.61
$45.50
$91.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.8
0
$21.64
$9.89
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
EV Truck/SUV
82.4
1
$28.85
$13.19
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 13, 2026
Origin
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clinton, SC
Late night
in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
S 3 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Florence, SC
103 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
6 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 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 206.1-mile journey is heavily dominated by major thoroughfares, with highways accounting for 80% of your time behind the wheel. You will spend a significant portion of the trip on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, which includes your longest uninterrupted stretch of 76.4 miles. As you transition from the coast toward Clinton, expect a consistent interstate grind rather than technical backroads. Navigating via I-26 and Church Street keeps the pace steady and predictable for the majority of the four-hour duration. It is a functional, high-speed drive that is designed for getting you to your destination with minimal detours or complex maneuvers.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.4 mi on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business / North Kings Highway.
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 12m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Alder Street): Navigation decision point; at 148.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
675 ft25 ft
Total Climb
900 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
675 ft
~206.1 mi in
Elevation Range
650 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 12m. Total distance: 206.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 76.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. 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: near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Alder Street): Navigation decision point; at 148.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Clinton, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
