Highway 17 in South Carolina Road Trip Itinerary: Myrtle Beach to Beaufort SC
The open road (and the beach) awaits on Highway 17 in South Carolina!
As you cross over the Carolina state line on Highway 17, there's not much to indicate why this stretch of highway is worth of a dedicated South Carolina road trip: there are lots of pines as far as you can see and a few ponds here and there.
If you stick with the road for a bit longer, you'll soon be treated to an overview of everything that coastal South Carolina has to offer.
Instead of bisecting the state on the much bigger and busier I-95, which runs through the Midlands portion of South Carolina, you'll be able to see some of the most picturesque parts of my home state.
With an average speed limit of 55, South Carolina's Highway 17 allows you to meander your way from Myrtle Beach to Beaufort SC and beyond, taking in small towns, bigger cities, the marshes, history, and culture along the way.
NOTE: You can take your road trip on Highway 17 in South Carolina in either direction, of course. I’ve done my best to note drive times and stops so you can adjust for your specific adventures!
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Updated 4/2022 | Written 3/2016
Coastal South Carolina Road Trip Itinerary
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Road Trip Stop 1: Little River
We'll start on our coastal South Carolina road trip in Little River, a sleepy area near the border (and from where my dad's side of the family hails).
As soon as you cross over the North Carolina-South Carolina border, you’ll have options on your first Highway 17 road trip stop.
Although the Little River area has plenty of personal ties for me, there's also something closely related to my family that I know anyone coming through this area would enjoy: the Vereen Memorial Gardens!
Donated by a distant cousin, this property traces the lineage of my family all the way back to my 11x great-grandparents, Jaques Varin and Suzanne Horry, who came over from England in the late 1600s.
Even if you’re not interested in family history, the park has beautiful walking trails, boardwalks, picnic tables, and more.
Don’t forget to hang an oyster on the trees down by the water!
Road Trip Stop 2: Calabash
l hope you’re hungry!
Climb back in the car and keep going until you see the sign for Calabash.
If you'd like to loop back into North Carolina, take highway 179 into this small town for some of the best seafood you'll ever try.
It was here that I was first introduced to fried flounder, one of my favorite dishes to this day.
Fairway at Tidewater Golf Course, North Myrtle Beach | (source)
Road Trip Stop 3: North Myrtle Beach
After completing our seafood dinner, let’s keep heading south along Highway 17 towards North Myrtle Beach.
Try out a few of the golf courses along this stretch of the Grand Strand: there are 20 in this area.
Also, you should note that North Myrtle Beach is not just the northern end of Myrtle Beach: it's a completely separate entity with its own government. My dad, who's a NMB native, loves to point this out to newcomers!
As you enter North Myrtle Beach on Highway 17 from Little River, the road will cross over the Intracoastal Waterway.
If you're the boating type, you could make use of a nice day, rent a boat or Jetski, and putter along this stretch of water that runs more or less parallel to Highway 17 here.
Along this stretch of coastal highway 17 (also called North Kings Highway here), you'll find lots of budget motels, putt-putt courses, and restaurants.
By and large, however, the biggest attraction is the beach, which is just a few blocks away from the road.
Barefoot Landing (source)
At the intersection of Highways 17 and 31, you'll find the Barefoot Landing complex, the gigantic Myrtle Beach Mall and Tanger Outlets, all of which are fantastic for some retail therapy.
Road Trip Stop 4: Myrtle Beach
Next, head south into Myrtle Beach, and you'll have a decision to make when the road forks into two parallel roads: 17 and Kings Highway.
If you stay on 17, you'll be able to visit Broadway at the Beach and the Coastal Grand Mall.
If you chose to take a detour onto North Kings Highway (aka Business 17), you'll get to visit the Ocean Drive boardwalk area, which is probably what you know about Myrtle Beach if you've visited there.
On Ocean Drive, there's lots of shopping, the SkyWheel, Ripley's Believe it or Not, and dozens of ocean front hotels.
Along Kings Highway near Surfside Beach, you'll also find several huge campgrounds like Ocean Lakes and Lakewood Camping Resort.
These are right on the beach and include all sorts of amenities from water parks and ice cream shops to live concerts and golf cart parades.
I loved taking my grandparents' RV for weekends away when I was little, something that we’ve recently been able to do again since we’ve gotten our own camper.
>> Discover the best things to do in Myrtle Beach SC. <<
The beach at Ocean Lakes Campground
Regardless of whether you stayed on 17 or took the short detour along Business 17, you'll find that the roads merge back together just below Garden City.
Road Trip Stop 5: Murrells Inlet
As you enter Murrells Inlet, I hope you have an appetite, since there are some fantastic seafood restaurants right on the Intracoastal Waterway, about 5 or 6 blocks off of 17.
Chow down on crab cakes, shrimp and grits, or lobster at Wahoo's, Bovine's, Dead Dog Saloon, or (my personal favorite) Drunken Jack's. The hush puppies there are delicious.
After you've had your fill of fried seafood deliciousness, you'll want somewhere to get out and stretch your legs.
Get back on 17 and head just south to Huntington Beach State Park, a huge swath of land that was donated by philanthropist Archer Huntington and sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington.
Explore the ruins of Atalaya, the Huntingtons' estate, camp by the ocean, or take a walk along the many trails on the property.
Just across the highway from Huntington Beach is one of my favorite spots on this road trip: Brookgreen Gardens.
Although the 15 acre property was a part of the Huntingtons' original land, this portion was set aside in a trust to be a place where the arts and nature live side-by-side.
Set aside a day to explore the gardens and the beautiful sculptures that are scattered about.
Visit the zoo, take a boat tour, or hop onto one of the bus tours of the property to learn more about the property's history.
Road Trip Stop 6: Litchfield Beach
If you're tired after a long day at Huntington Beach or Brookgreen Gardens, you could stay in Litchfield Beach, which is just a few miles south.
Fun fact: my parents actually went to Litchfield for part of their honeymoon!
When you enter Litchfield, you've crossed an invisible line into the Hammock Coast, which runs from just below Murrells Inlet to Georgetown.
Spend some time walking along the beach at Litchfield or in the shops along the road.
Road Trip Stop 7: Pawleys Island
Pawleys Island, South Carolina (source)
You'll soon be in Pawleys Island, the home of the famed ghost, the Grey Man, who warns beach residents of a coming storm and protects their houses.
It is also known for its Pawleys Island hammocks, which you can buy in several of the shops that line Highway 17 in South Carolina’s Hammock Coast.
Head out to the tiny spit of land that is Pawleys Island proper to experience the self-proclaimed "shabby chic" lifestyle that the island residents enjoy.
At the southernmost point on the island is public beach access with parking.
We love this spot since the beach is on one side of the point, and the Pawleys Island Creek is on the other side!
Road Trip Stop 8: Georgetown
Once you're past Pawleys, its only about 20 minutes to your next stop: the historic waterfront in Georgetown.
Georgetown is dominated by its steel and paper mills, but there's much more to this town than industry.
The adorable waterfront has been completely restored with a walkable downtown area filled with shops and riverside dining.
From Georgetown, head south into the North Santee region, where you'll find Hopsewee Plantation (pronounced: HOP-suh-wee).
Take the excellent tour of the historic home before sampling the afternoon tea at the onsite restaurant.
Back on 17, you'll cross the Santee River and find yourself surrounded by the Francis Marion National Forest, a protected area that cover 400 square miles in this part of the state.
Bring your tent to camp out; there are also multiple boat launches (like the Buck Hall Recreation Center) and several trails.
Road Trip Stop 9: McClellanville
This is one the best places to stop on the way to Myrtle Beach (or coming from Myrtle Beach)!
Just above McClellanville is another historic home: Hampton Plantation, which was the home of South Carolina's first poet laureate, Archibald Rutledge.
The home is unfurnished, but the tours (given by the park rangers) are quite good.
The fishing village of McClellanville is also a great place to stop for lunch.
Try the Pawleys Island Pie at T.W. Graham's before you walk to the shops along Pinckney Street.
>> Explore more of McClellanville, South Carolina with my comprehensive guide! <<
If you’re traveling with little kids and they need to play during your McClellanville stop, there’s a fenced play area with a great pirate ship at the end of Pinckney Street near the docks.
Road Trip Stop 10: Awendaw
You'll head back into the Francis Marion Forest towards Awendaw.
Make a stop at the Seewee Shell Ring--a gigantic oyster pile that has archeologists and historians puzzled on its exact purpose and use.
Then, spend a few hours at the excellent Birds of Prey Center.
Here, you’ll learn about local wildlife rescue efforts, see a flight demonstration, and see how the staff and volunteers keep these amazing birds healthy.
Awendaw doesn't have much in the way of food, although Seewee Restaurant has cornered the market with hot soul food and freshly caught seafood.
If you've got a bit of time and a sense of adventure, there are multiple places to see local wildlife in the Cape Romain Wildlife Preserve.
My favorite way to spend a day in Awendaw is to catch the Bulls Island ferry for a day out on an uninhabited barrier island.
>> Get tips on a successful Bulls Island visit here. <<
Road Trip Stop 11: Mount Pleasant
The view from the Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant
Highway 17 will wind you through Mount Pleasant next.
Take a detour here if you're interested in visiting the beaches at Isle of Palms or Sullivan’s Island.
>> You read about the best things to do in Mount Pleasant SC here! <<
Before you leave Mount Pleasant, get the best view of Charleston from the Ravenel Bridge.
You can walk, run, or bike over this bridge, which was built in 2005 to replace two other older bridges.
The views of the Charleston harbor are unparalleled from the top, so I love to recommend this as a fun (and free!) stop.
Road Trip Stop 12: Downtown Charleston
Rainbow Row in downtown Charleston
At the foot of the Bridge, you'll have another decision to make: keep on Highway 17 or stop for a few hours--or days--in Charleston?
As a Charleston native, I'd recommend the latter so you can take advantage of all of the delicious food and historic attractions in the area.
You’re sure to find more things to do than you’ll have time in which to do them!
At this point, your total drive time from Charleston SC to Myrtle Beach has been around 2.5 hours, if you were to drive it straight through.
However, if you wanted to maximize your Highway 17 road trip fun, I’d suggest taking several days to do the entire stretch!
In downtown, you could easily spend a few days of your total road trip allotment.
Start with the must-do sites like the Battery, the City Market, Rainbow Row, and a horse and carriage tour.
Road Trip Stop 13: West Ashley
If you've decided to bypass downtown Charleston, you'll head south on 17 through West Ashley.
Look out for the rotating Coburg Cow sign!
Back in the day, high school and college students used to ride the circulating cow, but local law enforcement has cracked down on this ritual in the last few years.
After you leave West Ashley, you'll head down into some of the least developed land along Highway 17.
As you wander through Osbourne, Jacksonboro, and White Pond, drink in the beauty that is the Lowcountry: huge live oaks, swift rivers, and quiet towns.
Road Trip Stop 14: Yemassee
When you see signs for Beaufort (Highway 21), prepare to stop at the Carolina Cider Company for fresh fudge, slices of pie, and cider.
If you’re planning to complete your Myrtle Beach to Beaufort road trip, you’ll then want to turn off onto Highway 21 and explore all that Beaufort, South Carolina has to offer.
>> See my guide to the best things to do in Beaufort SC! <<
However, if you’re headed to Savannah, Jacksonville or beyond, you’ll need to keep to Highway 17.
Just past the Cider Company, look for the turn off to the Old Sheldon Church.
These stunning ruins are haunting and gorgeous.
You might consider turning off when you see the sign for the Oyotunji African Village near Walterboro.
The residents of this village hail from West Africa and still adhere to a traditional lifestyle that is centered around the Yoruba religion.
Visit during one of their festivals for a compelling glimpse into their culture, which has been carefully preserved for over 40 years.
Road Trip Stop 15: Hardeeville
Highway 17 is gobbled up by Interstate 95 for several miles before it reappears as its own road in Ridgeland.
Just above Hardeeville is the exit for Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and the amazing Daufuskie Island.
Beyond that, there's not much to see in Ridgeland--or nearly Switzerland--but there are a few things to do in Hardeeville.
Here, you can walk along Tillman Nature Trail, fishing at Millstone Landing, and exploring the Savannah Wildlife Refuge.
Highway 17 in South Carolina finishes just across the river from Savannah's downtown area, so you're in the perfect place to keep your road trip going.
In downtown Savannah, GA, just across the South Carolina-Georgia border
Have you traveled along any portion of South Carolina's Highway 17? Which of these areas would you be most interested in visiting?
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