This 250-mile journey from Powdersville, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 5 hours to complete. The route primarily utilizes major highways, making it a straightforward drive through the Southeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $40, this trip is an accessible option for a quick getaway. A single planned stop should suffice for this duration. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, connecting two points within South Carolina without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
125 miles from Powdersville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.4 mi
1h 29m
I 26
55.2 mi
1h
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
Golden Strip Freeway
29.8 mi
32m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
Southern Connector
10.9 mi
11m
Highway 153
3.1 mi
6m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Powdersville, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on SC 153
49 ft·10 sec·Highway 153
2
Continue on SC 153
3.1 mi·5 min·Highway 153
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
4
Merge onto I 185
11 mi·11 min·Southern Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 385 South: Columbia
6
Merge onto US 276
0.2 mi·13 sec·US 276
7
Merge onto I 385
30 mi·32 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 26
55 mi·1 hr·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
12
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
13
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
16
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
17
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
18
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and minimize potential traffic delays, especially as you get closer to Myrtle Beach. You'll want to factor in your one planned stop for fuel and a break, perhaps around the halfway point or just before transitioning onto US 501 Business. Given the relatively short duration and high highway share, you have flexibility; however, be mindful of the longest uninterrupted stretch on I 20 to ensure you have adequate fuel before that segment. The $40 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 125 miles from Powdersville, SC, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.4 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125 miles or 2h 21m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtle Beach, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Powdersville, 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 Powdersville, SC
This is one driving day of about 250 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Powdersville, 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 I 20 for about 79.4 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.5 and 100.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in|I 185 / Southern Connector
Merge onto I 185 / Southern Connector
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
15.2 mi into trip|~20m in|I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge onto I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
45 mi into trip|~52m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
100.1 mi into trip|~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
5
100.4 mi into trip|~1h 53m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.09 one way
$78.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$42.75
$85.49
premium
$4.70
$46.27
$92.54
diesel
$5.61
$55.20
$110.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75
0
$26.25
$12.00
Efficient EV
62.5
0
$21.88
$10.00
EV Truck/SUV
100
1
$35.00
$16.00
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Powdersville, SC
Night
in Powdersville on Saturday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Night
in Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
10 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
5h on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 112.1
Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions
Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction
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 86% of this 250-mile trip. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on interstates, including a notable stretch of 79.4 miles on I 20. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of US 501 Business suggests a transition towards more local roads as you approach your destination. This blend means you can cover ground quickly on the interstate, but be prepared for a shift in pace and traffic patterns closer to Myrtle Beach.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.4 mi on I 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 miles in near I 185 / Southern Connector.
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 13 significant decision points across 250 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: at 3.5 miles (I 185 / Southern Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
967 ft25 ft
Total Climb
90 ft
Total Descent
1,033 ft
Highest Point
967 ft
Elevation Range
942 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 250 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 79.4 miles on I 20. 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 Myrtle Beach, 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: at 3.5 miles (I 185 / Southern Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.2 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 45 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Myrtle Beach, SC before the return drive.
