Simpsonville, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is 233.9 miles and takes about 4h 41m via I 20, I 26, and US 501 Business, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region towards the coast. The majority of this trip is on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. It's a solid option for a single-day excursion, especially if you want to get to the beach without too much fuss.
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
116.9 miles from Simpsonville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m 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
27.2 mi
29m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
Southeast Main Street
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,135 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,621
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Simpsonville, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on this road
107 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn right
175 ft·17 sec
3
Turn left onto Hedge Street
146 ft·11 sec·Hedge Street
4
Turn left onto SC 417
374 ft·13 sec·East Curtis Street
5
Turn left onto SC 14
1.1 mi·2 min·Southeast Main Street
6
Turn right onto Fairview Road
0.3 mi·36 sec·Fairview Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
8
Merge onto I 385
27 mi·29 min·Golden Strip Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 26
55 mi·1 hr·I 26
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
13
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
14
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
17
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
18
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
19
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 41m drive, departing in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening beach traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $39, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You'll cover 233.9 miles, with the longest continuous stretch on I 20 being 79.4 miles. Be aware that the final portion of the route, US 501 Business, is not highway and may have more local traffic and slower speeds as you near Myrtle Beach.
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 116.9 miles from Simpsonville, SC, or about 2h 11m 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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.9 miles or 2h 11m 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 44m
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 Simpsonville, 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 Simpsonville, SC
This is one driving day of about 233.9 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Simpsonville, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.1 — 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
Turn right
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 417 / East Curtis Street
Turn left onto SC 417 / East Curtis Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip|~4m 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
28.9 mi into trip|~33m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
84.1 mi into trip|~1h 34m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.16 one way
$74.31 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$40.52
$81.04
premium
$4.78
$44.02
$88.03
diesel
$6.18
$56.90
$113.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.2
0
$24.56
$11.23
Efficient EV
58.5
0
$20.47
$9.36
EV Truck/SUV
93.6
1
$32.75
$14.97
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Simpsonville, SC
Morning
in Simpsonville on Monday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 12 to 17 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 3:00AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:14AM EDT until October 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Morning
in Myrtle Beach on Monday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
N 22 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 3:00AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:14AM EDT until October 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
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
3 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
4h 41m 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...
21 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 96.8
Caution: Being Prepared for Excessive Heat & Humidity
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 89% of the 233.9 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 79.4 miles on I 20 before transitioning to other major roads. The drive transitions to surface streets, specifically US 501 Business, as you approach Myrtle Beach. Expect a significant number of exits and potential traffic as you get closer to the coast.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
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 233.9 miles you will encounter 15 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (SC 417 / East Curtis Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Simpsonville is a suburban city in the Upcountry of South Carolina southeast of the major city of Greenville. Simpsonville has experienced steady growth since 2008, and as a result, many restaurants and stores have been introduced to the area. Simpsonville has around 20,000 residents.
Top landmarks
•First Baptist Simpsonville — church building in Simpsonville, South Carolina, U.S.A.
•Burdette Building — building in Simpsonville, South Carolina, U.S.A.
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.
Top landmarks
•Waikiki Village Motel — Historic motel in South Carolina
•Chesterfield Inn — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, listed on the NRHP, now demolished
•Myrtle Beach Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Station — historic train station located at Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 233.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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; at 0.1 miles (SC 417 / East Curtis Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
