If you are looking to head inland from the coast, the 77.3-mile trip from Myrtle Beach to Darlington is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. You will primarily utilize a combination of Church Street, US 76, and US 501 to navigate between these two Southeast locations. Because the total duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. Budgeting about $12 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Whether you are heading toward Darlington for business or a change of pace, this direct connection offers a predictable travel experience that fits easily into a weekend schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.7 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Church Street
31.2 mi
39m
US 76
18.8 mi
24m
US 501
10.5 mi
16m
South Main Street
5 mi
6m
East Lucas Street
4.6 mi
7m
SC 576
3.2 mi
3m
Highway 501 East
2 mi
3m
East Cheves Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Church Street
— 31.2 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Darlington, 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
1.0 mi·2 min·East Cheves Street
14
Turn right onto South Church Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·South Church Street
15
Continue on East Lucas Street
4.6 mi·7 min·East Lucas Street
16
Continue on US 52
3.4 mi·3 min·South Main Street
17
Continue on US 52 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
18
Turn left onto Pearl Street
0.4 mi·35 sec·Pearl Street
19
Arrive at destination
Pearl Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive with zero planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your personal preference. To ensure a smooth experience, consider checking local traffic patterns on US 501 and US 76 before you pull out of Myrtle Beach, as road conditions can fluctuate. Because the entire trip is under two hours, you likely won't need to plan for lengthy breaks, but keeping your fuel budget of $12 in mind will help you stay prepared. Take advantage of the straightforward nature of the route to enjoy a stress-free transit between the coast and your destination in Darlington.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.7 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.2 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 17 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.7 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Darlington, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Myrtle Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Church Street for about 31.2 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 0.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
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
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Avenue North
Turn left onto 6th Avenue North
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
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 501
Turn left onto US 501
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.09 one way
$24.18 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.22
$26.43
premium
$4.70
$14.31
$28.61
diesel
$5.61
$17.07
$34.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 15, 2026
Origin
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Darlington, SC
Late night
in Darlington on Tuesday
Local time
5:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
27 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
1h 45m 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?
Expect a mixed driving profile that keeps the journey engaging as you transition away from the coast. With a 45% highway share, you will encounter a blend of faster-paced road segments and more localized driving conditions. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs early on, covering 31.2 miles along Church Street. As you progress, the road environment shifts, requiring you to remain attentive as you transition between the different road types. This variety prevents the monotony often found on pure interstate travel, providing a balanced experience behind the wheel.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.2 mi on Church Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 7 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (6th Avenue North): 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.
The longest stretch is about 31.2 miles on Church Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (6th Avenue North): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Darlington, SC before heading back.
