Myrtle Beach, SC to Port Royal, SC is 170.4 miles and takes about 3h 54m via North Fraser Street and Ocean Highway, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within South Carolina, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a mix of road types, making for a straightforward, single-day trip. It's a practical option if you're looking to cover ground without significant detours, with a manageable duration and cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.2 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North Fraser Street
56 mi
1h 14m
Savannah Highway
29.7 mi
43m
Ocean Highway
17.4 mi
25m
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi
22m
Highway 17
14.4 mi
16m
Trask Parkway
12 mi
14m
Charleston Highway
5.6 mi
7m
Parris Island Gateway
5.5 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
North Fraser Street
— 56 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Port Royal, 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
56 mi·1 hr 14 min·North Fraser Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 17
4.2 mi·6 min·North Highway 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi·15 sec·Septima P. Clark Parkway
18
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi·13 sec·Spring Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on Spring Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Spring Street
20
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·20 sec·this road
21
Merge onto US 17
30 mi·43 min·Savannah Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
23
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
25
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft·2 sec·Trask Parkway
26
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
27
Turn right onto US 21
5.5 mi·7 min·Parris Island Gateway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 21
0.6 mi·1 min·Russell Bell Bridge
29
Continue on US 21
1.1 mi·1 min·Ribaut Road
30
Turn right onto Paris Avenue
0.4 mi·40 sec·Paris Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Paris Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 54m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day, allowing for flexibility. Aim to depart Myrtle Beach earlier in the morning to make the most of daylight. The longest continuous stretch on North Fraser Street is 56 miles, so plan your first stop shortly after that segment if needed. With a fuel cost estimated at $27, it's wise to fill up before leaving Myrtle Beach to ensure you have enough for the entire 170.4-mile journey.
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 85.2 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 37 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.2 miles or 1h 56m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Royal, 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 170.4 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 North Fraser Street for about 56 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 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
$26.65 one way
$53.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.14
$58.27
premium
$4.70
$31.54
$63.07
diesel
$5.61
$37.62
$75.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.89
$8.18
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.91
$6.82
EV Truck/SUV
68.2
0
$23.86
$10.91
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
5:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Port Royal, SC
Late night
in Port Royal on Tuesday
Local time
5:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°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
22 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
3h 54m 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.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 170.4
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?
About 30% of this 170.4-mile drive is on highways, with the remaining 70% on surface roads. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 56 miles on North Fraser Street before transitioning to other primary roads like Savannah Highway and Ocean Highway. Pay attention as you merge from highway sections onto these surface roads, as the driving environment will change.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on North Fraser Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business / North Kings Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 170.4 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 170.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on North Fraser Street. 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 2.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Port Royal, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
