Myrtle Beach to Isle of Palms is 92.8 miles and takes about 2h 5m via Ocean Highway and Highway 17, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, connecting two popular coastal destinations in the Southeast. You'll be on mostly surface roads for this trip, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate cruise. The total travel time is quite manageable, making it an easy one-day excursion if you're looking to explore more of the SC coast.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Fraser Street
51.3 mi
1h 5m
Ocean Highway
17.4 mi
25m
Highway 17
14.4 mi
16m
Isle of Palms Connector
3.8 mi
6m
US 501
1.9 mi
3m
Church Street
1.4 mi
2m
US Highway 17 Bypass South
1.3 mi
1m
Palm Boulevard
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
North Fraser Street
— 51.3 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Isle of Palms, 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
1.9 mi·3 min·US 501
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward US 17 South: GeorgetownUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 17
3.7 mi·4 min·Highway 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 17
1.3 mi·1 min·US Highway 17 Bypass South
11
Continue on US 17
11 mi·12 min·Highway 17
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 17
17 mi·25 min·Ocean Highway
13
Continue on US 17
0.3 mi·25 sec·L. H. Siau Bridge
14
Continue on US 17
1.4 mi·2 min·Church Street
15
Turn left onto US 17
51 mi·1 hr 5 min·North Fraser Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto SC 517
3.8 mi·6 min·Isle of Palms Connector
17
Turn right onto Palm Boulevard
0.4 mi·51 sec·Palm Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
SC 703
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip at just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Myrtle Beach in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive at Isle of Palms and enjoy the afternoon. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry too much about frequent stops for gas. Pay attention to the various exits and town centers along Highway 17, as these can be points where traffic slows down. Plan for a brief stop if needed, but the drive is easily completed without one.
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 46.4 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.3 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 1h 4m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Isle of Palms, 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 92.8 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North Fraser Street for about 51.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 37.3 — 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
6
2.3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward US 17 South: Georgetown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 17 South: Georgetown
5
2.6 mi into trip|~5m in|US 17 / Highway 17
Merge onto US 17 / Highway 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
37.3 mi into trip|~52m in|US 17 / North Fraser Street
Turn left onto US 17 / North Fraser Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.51 one way
$29.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.87
$31.73
premium
$4.70
$17.18
$34.35
diesel
$5.61
$20.49
$40.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Isle of Palms, SC
Morning
in Isle of Palms on Sunday
Local time
7:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Georgetown, SC
46 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
21 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
2h 5m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with only 19% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 51.3 miles on North Fraser Street, which will likely involve navigating through towns and potentially dealing with more traffic signals. Once you move onto Highway 17, expect a more rural cruising feel for a significant portion of your trip. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you get closer to your destination.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.3 mi on North Fraser Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 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 2h 5m drive. You will face about 9 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 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Isle of Palms is a city of 4,347 (2020) in South Carolina, near Charleston. Over the years Isle of Palms has become a very popular vacation spot for families. Warm weather, an abundance of palm trees, and beautiful beaches make Isle of Palms the perfect location for any traveler.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.3 miles on North Fraser Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Isle of Palms, SC before heading back.
