Origin
Williamston, SC
Night in Williamston on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Williamston, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 1m
Distance
245.8 mi
396 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 48m
★
6 AM
5h 1m
8 AM
5h 28m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 8m
3 PM
5h 12m
5 PM
5h 27m
8 PM
4h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Williamston, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Williamston, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC is 245.8 miles and takes about 5h 1m via I 20 and I 26, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a highway-focused drive that covers a significant portion of the state. It’s a straightforward journey, ideal if you’re looking for an efficient way to get from the western part of South Carolina to the coast. The drive is designed for a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a direct transfer.
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
122.9 miles from Williamston, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m 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 | 22.9 mi | 24m |
| West Palmetto Street | 22.6 mi | 32m |
| Highway 418 | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Highway 8 East | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| 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 Williamston, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on Spring Park
80 ft
·
4 sec
·
Spring Park
2
Turn right onto SC 20
342 ft
·
7 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on SC 20
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
East Main Street
4
Turn slight left onto SC 20
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenville Drive
5
Continue on SC 20
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
South Carolina 20
6
Turn right onto Courtney Street Extension
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Courtney Street Extension
7
At end of road, turn right onto SC 8
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Lebby Street
8
Continue on SC 8
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 8 East
9
Continue on SC 418
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Highway 418
10
Continue on SC 418
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Milacron Drive
11
Continue on SC 418
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
McCarter Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
13
Merge onto I 385
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Golden Strip Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 26
55 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 26
Use the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 107B
Toward I 20 East: Florence
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto I 20
79 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi
·
32 min
·
West Palmetto Street
18
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi
·
3 min
·
SC 576
19
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi
·
55 min
·
US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
20
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft
·
14 sec
·
8th Avenue North
22
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
North Kings Highway
23
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft
·
11 sec
·
5th Avenue North
24
Turn right
196 ft
·
14 sec
25
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, departing in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to power through or take a brief break as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $38; plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before longer stretches. For this particular route, consider that the longest uninterrupted drive segment is 79.4 miles, so ensure you’re comfortable with that span before needing a pit stop. Since it’s a single-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to rush through accommodations.
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 122.9 miles from Williamston, SC, or about 2h 24m 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 54 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.9 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h
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 Williamston, 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 Williamston, SC
This is one driving day of about 245.8 miles and 5h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Williamston, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 54 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122.9 miles from Williamston, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 17.9 and 245.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
17.9 mi into trip
|
~28m 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 slight right lane.
5
40.8 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
7
95.9 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
96.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
245.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 59m in
|
US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.44 one way
$76.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $42.03 | $84.06 |
| premium | $4.70 | $45.49 | $90.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $54.27 | $108.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.7 | 0 | $25.81 | $11.80 |
| Efficient EV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.51 | $9.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.3 | 1 | $34.41 | $15.73 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Night in Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
9:27 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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 1m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 89% of the journey on major roads. You'll spend a good amount of time on interstates, including a longest stretch of 79.4 miles on I 20, offering a consistent pace. The profile is clearly highway-focused, meaning you'll experience relatively high speeds and fewer traffic lights for extended periods. While the main roads are primarily interstates like I 20 and I 26, the final leg utilizes US 501 Business, which may introduce a slight change in pace as you approach your destination.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 17.9 miles in near I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 245.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 17.9 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 1m. Total distance: 245.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 1m 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.
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.
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 17.9 miles (I 385 / Golden Strip Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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