How far is Myrtle Beach, SC from Columbia, SC?

The driving distance from Myrtle Beach, SC to Columbia, SC is about 154.3 miles (248.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 125.1 miles (201.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 14m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
154.36 mi
02h 37m
Flight
125.13 mi
201.38 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Myrtle Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
125.13 mi
Kilometers
201.38 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
154.36 mi
Kilometers
248.42 km
Drive Time
02h 37m

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 02h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 1:41 AM EDT
Return by in Myrtle Beach
Thu, Apr 23, 4:19 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Myrtle Beach
2026-04-22T23:04
Arrive Columbia
Thu, Apr 23, 1:41 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:16 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Myrtle Beach
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Olanta
SC

City in Florence County, South Carolina, United States of America

From Myrtle Beach
69 mi
01h 18m
To Columbia
85.3 mi
01h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Myrtle Beach Weather
SC
Live fallback forecast
79°F
Wednesday
Using Red Hill as the closest live forecast in the Horry County weather hub.

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 12 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Church Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Wright Boulevard

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Wright Boulevard

  11. 11

    Continue on Highway 378

    22.9 mi · 32 min · Highway 378

  12. 12

    Continue on East Myrtle Beach Highway

    36.1 mi · 43 min · East Myrtle Beach Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Main Street

    2637 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  14. 14

    Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Clarence Coker Highway

  15. 15

    Continue on Myrtle Beach Highway

    13 mi · 17 min · Myrtle Beach Highway

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Robert E Graham Freeway

    6.4 mi · 7 min · Robert E Graham Freeway

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Broad Street

    36.2 mi · 46 min · Broad Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Devine Street

    1284 ft · 32 sec · Devine Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Devine Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Devine Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Millwood Avenue

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Millwood Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Gervais Street

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Gervais Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Gervais Street

    71 m · 22 sec · Gervais Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Gervais Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
23 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
1 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Broad Street
36.2 mi · 23%
East Myrtle Beach Highway
36.1 mi · 23%
Highway 378
22.9 mi · 15%
Myrtle Beach Highway
13 mi · 8%
Robert E Graham Freeway
6.4 mi · 4%
Clarence Coker Highway
3.46 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Broad Street

Merge slight left onto Broad Street

36.2 mi · 00h 46m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 37m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+29.2 mi
125.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Olanta
01h 18m from Myrtle Beach
Leave By
1:16 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Myrtle Beach and Sunny near Columbia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 154.3 miles (248.4 km) and usually takes 02h 37m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Olanta is a useful midpoint, sitting about 69 miles from Myrtle Beach and 85.3 miles from Columbia.

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

The direct path is about 125.1 miles (201.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 29.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:16 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $21.59 one way or $43.17 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Myrtle Beach and Sunny near Columbia.

Stop Ideas Near Olanta

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Olanta, 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 Olanta.

RAIL

Kingstree

32 mi away
101 East Main St.
RAIL

Florence

33 mi away
805 East Day Street
RAIL

Camden

73 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Dillon

74 mi away
100 North Railroad Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Myrtle Beach and Columbia. Straight-line distance: 125.13 mi (201.38 km).

Myrtle Beach

#1 Myrtle Beach

Coastal city in South Carolina, United States

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

#2 Columbia

The most populous city in South Carolina.

Population132,130
Coordinates34.0007100, -81.0348100
Altitude89
CountryUnited States
Start: North Kings Highway (-78.887105, 33.689329)
End: Gervais Street (-81.034853, 34.000804)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 248 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.45 gal
20.62 L · about $21.59
Round trip
$43.17
10.9 gal · 41.24 L
Estimated CO2
48.4 kg one way
Round trip: 96.9 kg / 214 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $21.59 $43.17
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.14 $48.28
Premium $4.78 $26.04 $52.08
Diesel $5.62 $30.65 $61.30

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Myrtle Beach and Columbia. The current time is 23:04:17.

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.