You're standing on the boardwalk in Myrtle Beach, ice cream in hand, looking at the Atlantic. It's great. But maybe the neon lights are starting to feel a bit much. You start thinking about the cobblestones and Spanish moss of Charleston. You pull out your phone and type it in: how far is Myrtle Beach to Charleston South Carolina?
Google Maps says 95 miles.
That's the short answer. But honestly, if you just trust the mileage, you’re gonna be annoyed about forty-five minutes into the trip. It isn't a straight shot on a massive interstate. It’s a coastal crawl.
The actual numbers on the drive
Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. If you take US-17 South—which is basically the only logical way to go unless you want to see a lot of pine trees in the middle of nowhere—you're looking at roughly 95 to 100 miles.
On a perfect day? Two hours.
But here’s the thing. South Carolina traffic is a beast of its own. Between the drawbridges in Georgetown and the absolute bottleneck that happens when you hit Mount Pleasant, that two-hour estimate usually stretches to two and a half. If it's a Saturday in July? Forget it. You're looking at three hours of bumper-to-bumper heat.
The distance isn't the problem. It’s the lights.
US-17 isn't a highway in the way people from the Northeast or out West think of highways. It’s a series of connected main streets. You go 60 mph for ten minutes, then you hit a stoplight. Then another. Then a school zone. It’s a rhythmic kind of driving that requires patience and a good playlist.
Breaking down the route: Georgetown is the halfway mark
Most people think they’re making great time until they hit Georgetown.
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Georgetown is about 35 miles south of Myrtle Beach. It’s a beautiful, industrial, historic town that smells faintly of the paper mill (locals call it the "smell of money"). This is where the drive slows down. You have to cross two massive bridges here—the ones over the Pee Dee and Waccamaw Rivers.
I’ve seen those drawbridges go up for a sailboat and back up traffic for three miles. It happens.
Once you clear Georgetown, you enter the "Green Sea." This is the Santee Coastal Reserve area. For about 45 miles, there is almost nothing. No gas stations. No McDonald's. Just tall pines and the occasional stand selling boiled peanuts.
Why the "scenic" route is the only route
You might look at a map and think, "Hey, can I take I-95?"
No. Don't do that.
To hit the interstate, you’d have to drive inland toward Florence, go south, and then cut back toward the coast on I-26. You’d end up driving 150 miles to cover a 95-mile gap. You’d spend more on gas and see nothing but concrete. Stick to US-17. Even with the stoplights, it’s the superior path.
McClellanville and the hidden gems
If you aren't in a rush to get to your dinner reservation at Husk or FIG in Charleston, you should stop in McClellanville.
It’s about 30 minutes south of Georgetown. It’s a tiny fishing village that looks like it hasn't changed since 1950. Turn off the highway. Drive two minutes down to the docks. You’ll see the shrimp boats—the same ones that provide the "local catch" you’ll be eating later that night.
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It’s quiet.
The contrast between the high-rise hotels of Myrtle Beach and the silence of the Francis Marion National Forest, which borders this stretch of the road, is jarring. It’s the real Lowcountry.
Approaching the Holy City
You'll know you're getting close when the lanes widen and the signs for "Mount Pleasant" start appearing.
This is the final stretch.
Mount Pleasant is the affluent suburb just north of Charleston. It’s where how far is Myrtle Beach to Charleston South Carolina becomes a question of "how much patience do you have for commuters?" If you hit this area between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM, the last 10 miles of your 100-mile journey will take longer than the first 30.
You’ll cross the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. It’s the massive cable-stayed bridge that looks like two giant white sails. It’s iconic. Once you’re at the top of that bridge, you can see the steeples of Charleston. You’ve made it.
Practical tips for the trek
- Gas up in Murrells Inlet. Prices tend to be a few cents cheaper there than they are once you get deep into the rural stretches of the Francis Marion Forest.
- Watch the speed traps. The small towns like McClellanville and Awendaw take their speed limits very seriously. If it says 45, do 45.
- The "Boiled Peanut" factor. You will see roadside stands. Stop at one. If the peanuts are in a crockpot and the guy selling them looks like he’s lived in the woods for forty years, those are the ones you want. Get the cajun flavor.
- Check the bridge schedule. If you’re traveling on a weekday, try to avoid being on the Ravenel Bridge during peak commute times.
Logistics and alternatives
Maybe you don't want to drive.
Can you take a boat? Not really, unless you have your own yacht and a lot of time to navigate the Intracoastal Waterway. There isn't a high-speed ferry.
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Can you take a bus? Greyhound does a run, but it’s often indirect and takes forever.
Uber? It’ll cost you. Expect to pay anywhere from $120 to $200 depending on the surge pricing. Most drivers aren't thrilled about a two-hour drive that puts them far away from their home base, so you might have a few cancellations before someone bites.
The car is king here.
Beyond the pavement
What’s fascinating is how much the landscape changes. Myrtle Beach is built on the "Grand Strand," a 60-mile stretch of uninterrupted beach. Charleston is built on a peninsula surrounded by pluff mud and marsh.
The drive represents a shift in South Carolina culture. You're moving from the "Sun and Fun" capital to the "Holy City."
If you leave at 9:00 AM, you’ll be in downtown Charleston by 11:30 AM. That gives you plenty of time to walk the Battery, see the Rainbow Row houses, and grab a late lunch.
Final plan of action
Don't overthink the mileage. It's a straight shot down one road.
Pack a cooler with water because that stretch through the national forest gets hot, and if your AC is finicky, you'll feel it. Keep about $20 in cash on you for the roadside stands and the occasional small-town shop that doesn't love credit card fees.
Start your engine, set your GPS to the Charleston City Market, and keep your eyes on the road. The transition from the neon of the Grand Strand to the refined history of the Lowcountry is one of the best drives in the South, provided you aren't in a massive hurry.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the SCDOT website for any scheduled bridge maintenance on US-17 before you leave; weekend closures can turn a 2-hour trip into a 4-hour detour.
- Download an offline map of the Francis Marion National Forest area on Google Maps, as cell service can be spotty for about a 20-mile stretch.
- Aim to depart by 8:00 AM to clear Georgetown before the mid-morning traffic builds and to arrive in Charleston just as the historic sites open for the day.