Traveling from Woodruff to Myrtle Beach covers 225.3 miles across the South Carolina landscape. You can expect a drive time of roughly 4 hours and 35 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $36, it is an economical way to reach the coast. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares including I-20, I-26, and US 501 Business. Since the entire journey stays within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you head toward the Atlantic. It is an ideal weekend getaway route that provides a straightforward connection between the Upstate and the beach.
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
112.7 miles from Woodruff, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 20
79.4 mi
1h 29m
I 26
68.9 mi
1h 15m
US 501 Business
41.9 mi
55m
West Palmetto Street
22.6 mi
32m
Cross Anchor Road
5.8 mi
10m
SC 576
3.1 mi
3m
US 501
2 mi
3m
South Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 20
— 79.4 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,146 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,576
Quietest
2 AM
~168 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Woodruff, SC and Myrtle Beach, SC.
1
Start on US 221; SC 146
0.3 mi·47 sec·South Main Street
2
Continue on US 221; SC 146
159 ft·5 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on US 221; SC 146
0.2 mi·44 sec·Laurens Road
4
Turn slight left onto SC 146
5.8 mi·10 min·Cross Anchor Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
6
Merge onto I 26
69 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 107BToward I 20 East: FlorenceUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20
79 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 20
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto US 76
23 mi·32 min·West Palmetto Street
10
Continue on SC 576
3.1 mi·3 min·SC 576
11
Continue on US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
42 mi·55 min·US 501 Business; SC 41 Alternate
Use the left lane.
12
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
14
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
15
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
16
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Because this drive is easily completed in one day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Plan for at least one dedicated stop along the 225.3-mile path to break up the monotony of the interstate segments. Since you are spending about $36 on fuel, it is wise to fill up before leaving Woodruff to avoid paying higher prices near major tourist destinations. Keep a close eye on your navigation when you transition from the interstate system to US 501 Business, as the character of the road changes quickly. By pacing your drive with a single well-timed break, you can arrive in Myrtle Beach feeling refreshed and ready to enjoy your time on the coast.
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 112.7 miles from Woodruff, SC, or about 2h 10m 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 50 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.7 miles or 2h 10m 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 39m
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 Woodruff, 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 Woodruff, SC
This is one driving day of about 225.3 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Woodruff, 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 225.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~12m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
75.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
75.8 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|I 20
Merge onto I 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
225 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
5
225.2 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|5th Avenue North
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.26 one way
$66.53 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$36.55
$73.11
premium
$4.49
$39.84
$79.69
diesel
$4.80
$42.54
$85.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.6
0
$23.66
$10.81
Efficient EV
56.3
0
$19.71
$9.01
EV Truck/SUV
90.1
1
$31.54
$14.42
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Woodruff, SC
Late night
in Woodruff on Sunday
Local time
5:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
5:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
S 7 to 18 mph4% chanceLive 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
1 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 35m 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
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 93.2
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 experience, as 87% of this trip takes place on high-speed roads. You will spend a significant portion of your time on the interstates, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 79.4 miles on I-20. The journey transitions from the inland terrain of Woodruff to the coastal plains as you approach the coast via US 501 Business. While the interstate segments offer efficient, fast-paced driving, you should be prepared for the change in pace when you eventually transition onto local business routes. Overall, the road personality is functional and efficient rather than technical, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm behind the wheel.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 20 and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near I 26.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 35m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 miles (I 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
787 ft17 ft
Total Climb
26 ft
Total Descent
789 ft
Highest Point
787 ft
Elevation Range
770 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
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.
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 6.6 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.8 miles (I 20): 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 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
