Traveling from Surfside Beach to Goose Creek covers 92.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 53 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip through the Southeast, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Surfside Drive, US 17, and Ocean Highway to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel will cover your transit costs for the journey. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled into this itinerary, you have the flexibility to complete the drive in one efficient stretch.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Surfside Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17 Alternate
18.5 mi
26m
Ocean Highway
17.4 mi
25m
Goose Creek Boulevard South
14.2 mi
16m
Saints Delight Road
13.8 mi
18m
Highmarket Street
9.4 mi
12m
US 17 Business
7.6 mi
11m
County Line Road
5.8 mi
8m
US 52
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 17 Alternate
— 18.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach, SC and Goose Creek, SC.
1
Start on Surfside Drive
72 ft·7 sec·Surfside Drive
2
Continue on Surfside Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Surfside Drive
3
Turn left onto US 17 Business
7.6 mi·11 min·US 17 Business
4
Continue on US 17
17 mi·25 min·Ocean Highway
5
Continue on US 17
0.3 mi·25 sec·L. H. Siau Bridge
6
Continue on US 17
1.5 mi·2 min·Church Street
7
Merge onto US 17 Alternate; US 521
9.4 mi·12 min·Highmarket Street
8
Take the exit
378 ft·10 sec
9
Turn left onto US 17 Alternate
14 mi·18 min·Saints Delight Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Alternate; SC 41
5.8 mi·8 min·County Line Road
11
Turn right onto US 17 Alternate; SC 45
18 mi·25 min·US 17 Alternate; SC 45
12
Turn left onto US 17 Alternate; US 52
0.8 mi·1 min·US 17 Alternate; US 52
13
Continue on US 52; US 17 Alternate
1.1 mi·2 min·US 52; US 17 Alternate
14
Continue on US 52; SC 6 Truck
1.2 mi·1 min·US 52; SC 6 Truck
15
Continue on US 52
5.2 mi·5 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
Use the left lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52
9.0 mi·10 min·Goose Creek Boulevard South
17
Turn slight left onto Saint James Avenue
198 ft·7 sec·Saint James Avenue
18
Continue on Red Bank Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Red Bank Road
19
Turn right onto Old State Road
0.2 mi·55 sec·Old State Road
20
Turn right onto The Oaks Avenue
38 ft·1 sec·The Oaks Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
The Oaks Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 1 hour and 53 minute travel time, plan your departure during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on local roads. Since the entire trip is a manageable distance, you have the advantage of total flexibility in your schedule, allowing you to leave whenever it suits your plans. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy route, you should stay alert for frequent direction changes rather than relying on cruise control. With a fuel budget of just $14, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before you head out, as finding a convenient station once you are deep into the local turns can be less efficient. Use the lack of mandatory stops to your advantage by creating your own pace, stopping only when you feel like taking a break from the local road network.
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 46.4 miles from Surfside Beach, SC, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Goose Creek, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Surfside 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 Surfside Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 92.7 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Surfside Beach, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 Alternate for about 18.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.4 and 92.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
27.4 mi into trip|~41m in|US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street
Merge onto US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
50.7 mi into trip|~1h 13m in|US 17 Alternate; SC 41 / County Line Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Alternate; SC 41 / County Line Road
Navigation decision point
4
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Keep slight right at fork onto US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
92.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|Old State Road
Turn right onto Old State Road
Navigation decision point
5
92.7 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|The Oaks Avenue
Turn right onto The Oaks Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.50 one way
$28.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.85
$31.70
premium
$4.70
$17.16
$34.31
diesel
$5.61
$20.47
$40.93
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: 32.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.73
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.11
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Surfside Beach, SC
Night
in Surfside Beach on Sunday
Local time
9:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Goose Creek, SC
Night
in Goose Creek on Sunday
Local time
9:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
86°F
Andrews, SC
46 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
24 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 11m 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.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$10
near mile 92.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway driving. You will navigate local thoroughfares throughout the entire 92.8-mile journey, which means there are no long, monotonous stretches of uninterrupted highway. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Surfside Drive, confirming that this is a hands-on driving experience requiring your full attention. As you transition between these local roads, the pace remains steady but demands constant navigation through turns. This is an ideal route for drivers who prefer a more interactive, local-style road experience over the predictability of a major interstate.
31% 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: 18.5 mi on US 17 Alternate.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 around 27.4 miles in near US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m 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 27.4 miles (US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 50.7 miles (US 17 Alternate; SC 41 / County Line Road): Navigation decision point; at 82.5 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.5 miles on US 17 Alternate. 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: at 27.4 miles (US 17 Alternate; US 521 / Highmarket Street): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 50.7 miles (US 17 Alternate; SC 41 / County Line Road): Navigation decision point; at 82.5 miles (US 52 / Goose Creek Boulevard South): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical 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 Goose Creek, SC before heading back.
