How far is Myrtle Beach, SC from Cary, NC?

The driving distance from Myrtle Beach, SC to Cary, NC is about 195.2 miles (314.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 55m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 145.4 miles (234 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
195.16 mi
03h 55m
Flight
145.39 mi
233.98 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Myrtle Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
145.39 mi
Kilometers
233.98 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
195.16 mi
Kilometers
314.08 km
Drive Time
03h 55m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 55m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Cary
Wed, Aug 26, 2:35 AM EDT
Return by in Myrtle Beach
Wed, Aug 26, 6:30 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Myrtle Beach
2026-08-25T22:39
Arrive Cary
Wed, Aug 26, 2:35 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 55m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:55 AM to 11:55 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:10 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Myrtle Beach
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Barker Ten Mile
NC

Township in Robeson County, North Carolina

From Myrtle Beach
97.6 mi
01h 57m
To Cary
97.5 mi
01h 57m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Myrtle Beach Weather
SC
Live fallback forecast
83°F
Tuesday
Using Forestbrook as the closest live forecast in the Horry County weather hub.

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, Aug 25 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph NE
Destination
63°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Tue, Aug 25 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Myrtle Beach and Cary.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Myrtle Beach and Cary.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    21 m · 10 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    49 m · 14 sec

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto North Kings Highway

    609 ft · 20 sec · North Kings Highway

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 6th Avenue North

    149 m · 22 sec · 6th Avenue North

  5. 5

    Continue on 6th Avenue North

    889 ft · 46 sec · 6th Avenue North

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Alder Street

    47 m · 7 sec · Alder Street

  7. 7

    Turn left

    10.5 mi · 16 min

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 501 East

    2 mi · 3 min · Highway 501 East

  9. 9

    Continue on Church Street

    30.7 mi · 39 min · Church Street

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    12.9 mi · 15 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right

    11.3 mi · 14 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Radford Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Radford Boulevard

  13. 13

    Take the exit right

    1865 ft · 46 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    85.8 mi · 1 hr 36 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 40: Raleigh, Wilmington

    1480 ft · 36 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 40 West: Raleigh

    1.3 km · 2 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    14.2 mi · 15 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    22.3 mi · 25 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward NC 54: Cary

    1262 ft · 29 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Chapel Hill Road

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Chapel Hill Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto North Academy Street

    7 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Academy Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Myrtle Beach and Cary.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Radford Boulevard
87.3 mi · 45%
Church Street
54.9 mi · 28%
I 40 West
37.3 mi · 19%
Chapel Hill Road
2.23 mi · 1%
Highway 501 East
2.03 mi · 1%
I 40
0.28 mi
Longest Stretch

Radford Boulevard

Merge slight left

85.8 mi · 01h 36m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 55m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.8 mi
145.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Barker Ten Mile
01h 57m from Myrtle Beach
Leave By
9:10 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Myrtle Beach and Mostly Clear near Cary.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Myrtle Beach to Cary?

The road trip is about 195.2 miles (314.1 km) and usually takes 03h 55m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Barker Ten Mile is a useful midpoint, sitting about 97.6 miles from Myrtle Beach and 97.5 miles from Cary.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 145.4 miles (234 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:10 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.29 one way or $54.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Myrtle Beach and Mostly Clear near Cary.

Stop Ideas Near Barker Ten Mile

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Barker Ten Mile, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Barker Ten Mile.

RAIL

Fayetteville

43 mi away
472 Hay Street
RAIL

Dillon

46 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue
RAIL

Southern Pines

66 mi away
235 Northwest Broad Street
RAIL

Hamlet

69 mi away
West Main St. and North Bridges St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Myrtle Beach and Cary. Straight-line distance: 145.39 mi (233.98 km).

Myrtle Beach

#1 Myrtle Beach

Coastal city in South Carolina, United States

Population35,555
Coordinates33.6890600, -78.8866900
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Cary

#2 Cary

Town in North Carolina, United States

Population173,587
Coordinates35.7915400, -78.7811200
Altitude152
CountryUnited States
Start: Myrtle Beach (-78.88669, 33.68906)
End: Cary (-78.78112, 35.79154)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 314 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.89 gal
26.07 L · about $27.29
Round trip
$54.58
13.78 gal · 52.14 L
Estimated CO2
61.2 kg one way
Round trip: 122.5 kg / 270 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $27.29 $54.58
Mid-grade $4.43 $30.52 $61.03
Premium $4.78 $32.92 $65.84
Diesel $5.62 $38.75 $77.50

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in South Carolina · Aug 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Myrtle Beach and Cary. The current time is 22:39:41.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.