Myrtle Beach, SC to Sumter, SC is 95 miles and takes about 2h 10m via East Myrtle Beach Highway and Highway 378, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving from the coastal Southeast region to a more inland part of the Southeast. Expect a mixed drive that isn't overly demanding, making it a straightforward option for a single day. You'll likely encounter a blend of highway speeds and local road conditions as you make your way inland. This route is best suited for those prioritizing a direct and efficient journey between these two South Carolina cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East Myrtle Beach Highway
36.1 mi
43m
Highway 378
22.9 mi
32m
Myrtle Beach Highway
13 mi
16m
US 501
10.5 mi
16m
Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi
4m
East Liberty Street
2.1 mi
3m
Highway 501 East
2 mi
3m
Church Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East Myrtle Beach Highway
— 36.1 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach, SC and Sumter, 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
1.5 mi·2 min·Church Street
10
Turn left onto US 378
1.1 mi·2 min·Wright Boulevard
11
Continue on US 378
23 mi·32 min·Highway 378
12
Continue on US 378
36 mi·43 min·East Myrtle Beach Highway
13
Continue on US 301; US 378
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi·4 min·Clarence Coker Highway
15
Continue on US 378
13 mi·16 min·Myrtle Beach Highway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 378
1.0 mi·1 min·Robert E Graham Freeway
17
Take the exit
291 ft·7 sec
18
Continue on Nort Pike East
0.2 mi·25 sec·Nort Pike East
19
Turn left onto US 76
222 ft·3 sec·Florence Highway
20
Continue on US 76 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·East Liberty Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 76 Business
Trip Plan
Given this is a 2h 10m drive, it's perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to depart at your leisure. Aiming for a morning departure will give you plenty of daylight to reach Sumter comfortably, with time to spare. With only one recommended day and no specific stops noted, flexibility is key; you can decide on any breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 36.1-mile stretch on East Myrtle Beach Highway, as services might be more spaced out compared to a major interstate. Your estimated fuel cost of $15 suggests it's an economical trip to plan for.
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 47.5 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 21 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sumter, 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 95 miles and 2h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East Myrtle Beach Highway for about 36.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.9 — 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
5
92.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|US 76 / Florence Highway
Turn left onto US 76 / Florence Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.86 one way
$29.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.24
$32.49
premium
$4.70
$17.58
$35.16
diesel
$5.61
$20.97
$41.95
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: 33.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.98
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.31
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.30
$6.08
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sumter, SC
Late night
in Sumter on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°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
30 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 10m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 38% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 36.1 miles on East Myrtle Beach Highway, which should provide a good pace for a significant portion of your trip. As you transition to Highway 378 and other local roads, expect the character of the drive to change, likely involving more varied speeds and potentially more local traffic. The overall feel is less of a monotonous interstate grind and more of a dynamic route that keeps you engaged without being overly challenging.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on East Myrtle Beach Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 2h 10m drive. You will face about 8 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 10m. Total distance: 95 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.1 miles on East Myrtle Beach Highway. 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: 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sumter, SC before heading back.
