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Driving Directions To North Myrtle Beach

Plan Your Visit To The Beach

Though there is no direct interstate into the Grand Strand (yet!) there are several highways that feed into town from the north, south, and west to help you reach your final destination. For those interested in flying, check out our flight tips.

If you’re wondering how to get the lay of the sand—er—land, we’ve got you covered. Check out our free guide to driving to North Myrtle Beach for a complete overview of area interstates and highways and for driving directions from some of our most popular destinations!

Directions to North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach is easily accessible from the north, south, and west. Here a few of the most popular destinations. 

Atlanta to North Myrtle Beach

Driving Distance: 375 Miles

Drive Time: 5.75 Hours

 

The drive from Atlanta to North Myrtle Beach is just under 6 hours drive time. In general, you’ll take I-20 East to Augusta and then cut north towards Columbia. From there, you’ll head east through Florence and then onward to North Myrtle. 

Charlotte to North Myrtle Beach

Driving Distance: 188 Miles

Drive Time: 3.25 Hours

 

The drive from Charlotte to North Myrtle Beach is a backroad breeze, clocking in at just over 3 hours. There’s no interstate, but the highway that runs along the North Carolina / South Carolina border is easy to navigate.

Cleveland to North Myrtle Beach

Driving Distance: 685 Miles

Drive Time: 11 Hours

 

The trek from Cleveland, Ohio to North Myrtle Beach, SC will take you right around 11 hours—but we promise the result is worth the effort! Most of the drive takes place via I-77 south and I-74 south.

Pittsburgh to North Myrtle Beach

Driving Distance: 620 Miles

Drive Time: 10 Hours

 

Driving from Pittsburgh to North Myrtle Beach will take about 10 hours depending on traffic. The good news is, most of the driving south is via interstates, and there’s plenty to see and do along the way if you want to break up the drive.

Savannah to North Myrtle Beach

Driving Distance: 240 Miles

Drive Time: 4 Hours

The scenic drive from Savannah to North Myrtle Beach follow backcountry highways through the picturesque lowcountry, including a quick trip through Charleston and Pawleys Island. The total drive clocks in at just under four hours and follows I-95 North to US-378 East.

South Carolina Interstates

Though the Grand Strand lacks formal interstates, you’ll likely drive on one or two of our state interstates during your commute: 

I-20 is 141.51 miles in length and runs from the Georgia state line to Florence.

I-26 is 355 miles in length and runs from the NC state line all the way through to Georgia. 

I-77 is 91 miles in length and connects the North Carolina border with !-20 and I-26 in Columbia.

I-85 is 106 miles in length and connects Georgia and North Carolina through Greenville. 

I-95 is 200 miles and runs the entire length of the lowcountry from the North Carolina border through Georgia. 

There are also plans to add new interstates in the future: I-73, which will connect along SC 22, and I-74, which will connect along SC 31. 

Myrtle Beach / Grand Strand Highways

Drive like a local—get to know the Myrtle Beach area highways:

North to South Highways 

US 17 Business—17 Business, also known as “Kings Highway” runs parallel to the coast between Ocean Boulevard and US 17 Bypass. It runs the course of the North Carolina state line all the way south through Georgetown. This route runs closer to the coast and is a frequent road of travel for visitors. 

US 17 Bypass—17 Bypass is an alternate route that cuts through the heart of Myrtle Beach. The bypass starts in Murrells Inlet in the south and runs north through the north end of Myrtle Beach. The bypass is a little farther west (inland) and is a primary route for locals. 

SC 31—A recent addition to the local highway lineup, SC 31 (or “Carolina Bays Parkway”) is an extremely helpful route for quickly traveling along the Grand Strand. This high-speed (65 mph) highway functions more like an interstate and currently runs from Little River to Socastee, though there are plans to extend this farther south in the future. Note: you will cross the Intracoastal Waterway to get to this highway. 

East to West Highways

US 501—Highway 501 is the primary route that leads directly into the heart of Myrtle Beach. This highway is very busy, but luckily for North Myrtle Beach visitors, you likely won’t have to deal with the traffic as your route will be diverted farther north. 

SC 22—North Myrtle Beach visitors will likely come in through Highway 22, also known as the “Conway Bypass”,  which routes traffic north around the city of Conway and directly into the North Myrtle Beach area (Cherry Grove). This is another high-speed hack, with a speed limit of 65 miles per hour. 

SC 544—The south end’s version of SC 22, SC 544 routes 501 traffic south through Socastee and brings drivers into the Surfside Beach area. This highway also connects to SC 31. 

Parking in North Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach offers both paid and free parking opportunities; the key is knowing which is which! And, the city recently announced plans to expand the available parking with 200 new spots between 4th Avenue North and 18th Avenue North. 

 

Luckily for you, we have an interactive tool to help you locate parking in North Myrtle Beach and navigate the paid versus free lots. 

Check out the free parking tool here.

Tips for Driving To North Myrtle Beach

Check the traffic in advance. Interstate accidents and seasonality can drastically impact your drive time and the best route into town. We recommend using a GPS-enabled, real-time traffic app like Waze to stay on top of the fastest, most efficient route based on real-time information. Google Maps is another good app-based solution. 

Scout out the cheapest gas. Save more money for your actual vacation by filling up at the cheapest stations along the way. Apps like GasBuddy can help you locate great deals. 

Prepare for an emergency. Accidents happen, so prepare for the worst by having a first aid kit and car tools handy. You should also consider investing in a program like AAA to help ease stress during a breakdown. 

Rest assured that navigating to North Myrtle Beach is a breeze, especially with the help of a few handy apps. Check out our official North Myrtle Beach blog to get ready for your beach vacation!