Myrtle Beach, SC to Edgefield, SC is 212.2 miles and takes about 4h 22m via J Strom Thurmond Freeway and US 76, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region from coast toward the inland areas. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on highways, making it a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day.
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
106.1 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,046 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,477
Quietest
2 AM
~170 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 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 Myrtle Beach, SC and Edgefield, 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
124 mi·2 hr 18 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 18Toward SC 19: Edgefield, Aiken
19
Keep slight right at fork
135 ft·3 sec
Exit 18Toward SC 19: Edgefield, Aiken
20
Turn straight onto SC 19
5.9 mi·8 min·Edgefield Highway
21
Continue on SC 19
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 19
22
Continue on SC 19
5.2 mi·6 min·Augusta Road
23
Continue on US 25
0.5 mi·49 sec·Augusta Road
24
Continue on US 25
1.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 25; SC 23
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 22m drive time, leaving Myrtle Beach in the morning is ideal to give you flexibility upon arrival in Edgefield. While this route is manageable in one day, consider the single recommended stop to break up the 123.8-mile longest stretch on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as highway stretches can sometimes have fewer services. The estimated fuel cost is $36, so plan accordingly. As you transition off the main freeway, pay attention to local speed limits and the change in 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 106.1 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.8 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 47 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.1 miles or 2h 18m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edgefield, 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 212.2 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 123.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 196 — 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
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Alder Street
At end of road, turn right onto Alder Street
Navigation decision point
6
195.6 mi into trip|~3h 58m in
Take the exit toward SC 19: Edgefield, Aiken
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward SC 19: Edgefield, Aiken
7
196 mi into trip|~3h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward SC 19: Edgefield, Aiken
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward SC 19: Edgefield, Aiken
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.75 one way
$67.50 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$36.80
$73.60
premium
$4.78
$39.93
$79.85
diesel
$5.35
$44.70
$89.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.7
0
$22.28
$10.19
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.57
$8.49
EV Truck/SUV
84.9
1
$29.71
$13.58
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Myrtle Beach, SC
Afternoon
in Myrtle Beach on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 2 to 8 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 7:28PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
Destination
Edgefield, SC
Afternoon
in Edgefield on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NE 3 mph72% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued June 1 at 7:28PM EDT by NWS Columbia 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
5 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 22m 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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 139
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 76% of the 212.2 miles on high-speed roads like the J Strom Thurmond Freeway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 123.8 miles on this freeway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect the dense exit environment of the freeway to give way to more rural cruising as you approach your destination. The shift from highway to surface streets will likely occur around the 170-mile mark.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.8 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 Church Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 22m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.4 miles (Alder Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
570 ft25 ft
Total Climb
774 ft
Total Descent
270 ft
Highest Point
570 ft
~197 mi in
Elevation Range
545 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 Myrtle Beach, SC to Edgefield, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Aiken along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Waikiki Village Motel — Historic motel in South Carolina
•Chesterfield Inn — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, listed on the NRHP, now demolished
•Myrtle Beach Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station — historic train station located at Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina
The longest stretch is about 123.8 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Alder Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Edgefield, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
