This 165.1-mile drive from Myrtle Beach, SC to Winnsboro, SC is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 26 minutes. With 75% of the journey on highways, you'll find it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. Budget around $26 for fuel to cover this distance. The route is focused on efficient travel, making it a practical choice for getting between these two South Carolina locations without needing an overnight stay. You'll experience a consistent driving pace for most of the trip.
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
82.5 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 Winnsboro, 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
66 mi·1 hr 11 min·J Strom Thurmond Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 76AToward I 77: Charlotte, CharlestonUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 77 North: CharlotteUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto I 77
17 mi·19 min·Charles F Bolden Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 34Toward SC 34: Ridgeway, WinnsboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
404 ft·14 sec
23
Turn left onto SC 34
6.3 mi·8 min·State Highway 34
24
At end of road, turn right onto US 321
0.3 mi·27 sec·US Highway 321 South Bypass
25
Turn right onto US 321 Business
260 ft·4 sec·State Highway 34
26
Continue on US 321 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·Columbia Road
27
Continue on US 321 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·South Congress Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 321 Business
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 26-minute duration, this route is comfortably completed in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace and potential brief stops without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 65.8 miles on the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, as services might be more spaced out in certain sections. The $26 fuel cost is a good estimate to keep in mind for your budget.
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 82.5 miles from Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.8 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 82.5 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 Winnsboro, 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 165.1 miles and 3h 26m.
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 65.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 155.7 — 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
8
137.6 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston
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 76A
Toward I 77: Charlotte, Charleston
7
138 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 77 North: Charlotte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 77 North: Charlotte
8
155.7 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward SC 34: Ridgeway, Winnsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 34
Toward SC 34: Ridgeway, Winnsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.82 one way
$51.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.23
$56.46
premium
$4.70
$30.56
$61.11
diesel
$5.61
$36.45
$72.90
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: 57.8 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
49.5
0
$17.34
$7.92
Efficient EV
41.3
0
$14.45
$6.60
EV Truck/SUV
66
0
$23.11
$10.57
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
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winnsboro, SC
Late night
in Winnsboro on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
85°F
Florence, SC
83 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
1 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 26m 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 136.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 75% of this 165.1-mile route. The majority of your travel will be on roads like the J Strom Thurmond Freeway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 65.8 miles. While there are sections on Church Street and US 76, the overall personality is one of efficient transit rather than winding scenic byways. The road primarily facilitates movement, offering a consistent pace for the bulk of the journey.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.8 mi on J Strom Thurmond Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on J Strom Thurmond Freeway and Church Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Business / North Kings Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 165.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 137.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
535 ft25 ft
Total Climb
701 ft
Total Descent
191 ft
Highest Point
535 ft
~165.1 mi in
Elevation Range
510 ft
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 Winnsboro, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 165.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.8 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Winnsboro, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 137.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Winnsboro, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
