Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
32.8 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Cool Spring, SC
Ravi Roshan
This 32.8-mile drive from Surfside Beach, SC, to Cool Spring, SC, is a quick, 54-minute journey perfect for a single day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of just $5, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Dick Pond Road and Church Street, offering a straightforward travel experience. You won't need an overnight stay, making it ideal for a spontaneous outing or a short excursion. The overall feel is that of a simple, direct connection between two points within South Carolina.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dick Pond Road | 13.3 mi | 23m |
| Church Street | 10.4 mi | 15m |
| Horry Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| US 17 Business | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Highway 501 East | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Salem Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| SC 319 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Surfside Drive | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Cool Spring, SC.
Start on Surfside Drive
Continue on Surfside Drive
Turn right onto US 17 Business
Turn left onto SC 544
Turn sharp left onto SC 544
Turn right onto SC 544
Turn left onto US 501
Continue on US 501
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto Horry Road
Turn left onto Salem Road
At end of road, turn left onto SC 319
Turn slight right onto Lela J Drive
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.3 and 28.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto SC 544 / Dick Pond Road
Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp left onto SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn right onto SC 544
Navigation decision point
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
At end of road, turn left onto Horry Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.84 one way
$9.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.12 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
| premium | $4.49 | $5.80 | $11.60 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $6.19 | $12.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.44 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.87 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.59 | $2.10 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Surfside Beach on Tuesday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Cool Spring on Tuesday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
71°F
Red Hill, SC
16 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with a relatively low 15% highway share. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 13.3 miles along Dick Pond Road, offering a brief period of more consistent travel. The roads are generally local, meaning you'll navigate through communities and potentially encounter more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; it's more about a steady progression through the South Carolina landscape via its network of secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near SC 544 / Dick Pond Road.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.3 miles (SC 544 / Dick Pond Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 15.6 miles (SC 544 / West Cox Ferry Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 15.7 miles (SC 544): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
112 ft
Total Descent
29 ft
Highest Point
93 ft
~32.8 mi in
Elevation Range
85 ft
Surfside Beach is a coastal town located in the Grand Strand region of South Carolina's northern coast.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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