Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
21m
Distance
11.4 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Garden City Beach, SC
Kate Strilchuk
Myrtle Beach, SC to Garden City Beach, SC is 11.4 miles and takes about 21 minutes via North Kings Highway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically South Carolina, connecting two popular coastal destinations. Given its brief duration and local roads, it’s more of a quick hop than an epic journey. Expect a straightforward drive that’s easy to navigate, making it ideal for a spontaneous outing or a simple transfer between nearby points.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Kings Highway | 9.6 mi | 17m |
| Cypress Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Waccamaw Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 4th Avenue North | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Garden City Beach, SC.
Start on this road
Turn right onto 4th Avenue North
Turn left onto US 17 Business
Turn left onto S-26-154
At end of road, turn right onto S-26-155
Turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 11.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 4th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto S-26-154 / Cypress Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto S-26-155 / North Waccamaw Drive
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Cedar Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$1.78 one way
$3.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.95 | $3.90 |
| premium | $4.70 | $2.11 | $4.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.52 | $5.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.20 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.00 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.60 | $0.73 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Garden City Beach on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is characterized by a high number of turns, meaning you’ll be actively steering for most of the 11.4 miles. With a 0% highway share, you'll be on local roads the entire time, primarily using North Kings Highway and Cypress Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.6 miles on North Kings Highway, so while there are turns, you can still get into a rhythm. The route progresses through developed coastal areas, so anticipate frequent intersections and traffic signals.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 4th Avenue North.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 21m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (4th Avenue North): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 17 Business / North Kings Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles (S-26-154 / Cypress Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 21m. Total distance: 11.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Myrtle Beach, SC or browse trips ending in Garden City Beach, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
