Traveling from the coast to the Piedmont region, this 170.5-mile journey links Myrtle Beach to Rock Hill in about 2 hours and 56 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $27 on fuel for the trek. You will be navigating local roads like North Kings Highway, 6th Avenue North, and Alder Street rather than jumping on major interstates. It is a straightforward transit within South Carolina, perfect for travelers who prefer local roads over the high-speed monotony of the highway system.
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
82.3 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Rock Hill, 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
73 mi·1 hr 21 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 68Toward SC 215: Monticello Road, JenkinsvilleUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto SC 215
10 mi·18 min·Monticello Road
20
Keep slight left at fork onto SC 215
2.1 mi·3 min·Monticello Road
21
Continue on SC 215
6.4 mi·11 min·State Highway 215S
22
Arrive at destination
SC 215
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3-hour trip, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local navigation. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid the congestion that can often build up on local corridors as you move toward your destination. Since this route is entirely off the highway, be mindful that your travel time may fluctuate more than a standard interstate drive based on local traffic patterns. Keep your $27 fuel budget in mind, but always factor in a little extra cushion for idling in town centers. Prioritize checking your GPS frequently, as the reliance on local roads like Alder Street means you will be making more turns than on a typical cross-state highway route.
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 82.3 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.4 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 36 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.3 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Hill, 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 164.6 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 73.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 145.3 — 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
8
145.3 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward SC 215: Monticello Road, Jenkinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68
Toward SC 215: Monticello Road, Jenkinsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.74 one way
$51.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.14
$56.29
premium
$4.70
$30.46
$60.93
diesel
$5.61
$36.34
$72.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.28
$7.90
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.40
$6.58
EV Truck/SUV
65.8
0
$23.04
$10.53
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Morning
in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rock Hill, SC
Morning
in Rock Hill on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Florence, SC
82 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
26 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 35m 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.
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
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 136.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a standard interstate grind, this route relies entirely on local roads, meaning your highway share is zero percent. You will navigate through various town transitions, trading long, uninterrupted stretches for a more hands-on driving experience. The character of the road shifts as you move away from the coast, requiring you to stay alert through frequent turns. It is a practical, ground-level way to see the transition between the Southeast regions of the state.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.4 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 3h 35m drive. You will face about 11 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.
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 Rock Hill, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Jenkinsville 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.
Rock Hill is a small city in the Olde English District of South Carolina approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Charlotte and 70 miles (110 km) north of Columbia.
Rock Hill is essentially a commuter town and not on many tourists' radar, but does offer numerous outdoor activities and dining options.
Top landmarks
•Rock Hill Downtown Historic District — historic church in South Carolina, United States
•U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (Rock Hill) — historic building in Rock Hill, South Carolina, United States
•Withers Building — historic building on Winthrop University campus, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S....
The longest stretch is about 73.4 miles on J Strom Thurmond Freeway. 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: 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 — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Rock Hill, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
