How long is the drive from long island to myrtle beach?

Answer 1

I've been driving down to Myrtle Beach every August for the past 20 years now. There. That makes me an expert, right?

Well, maybe so, maybe not. But, what I DO know is what works best for me.

I leave Long Island, New York at 11:00 PM on a Friday night. After I get out of NY, I take the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) through Delaware and Maryland, leaving it only at 495 West, The Loop around Washington D.C. I pick I-95 back up in Northern Virginia and stay on it until I get into North Carolina.

This is where you have to make a decision on how to continue your route based on which part of Myrtle Beach you're staying at.

I always stay in the Cherry Grove area of North Myrtle Beach, so I exit I-95 at I-40 in Benson, NC. I-40 goes from Los Angeles to Wilmington, NC. (I suggest you go east at that point.)

When I get to Wilmington, I pick up Route 17 and I take that south for about an hour until I cross the border into SC, which is right where my condo is.

If you are going to SOUTH Myrtle Beach, then I would stay on I-95 until 501 and take that directly into Myrtle. Don't worry about everyone who says 501 is a pain in the butt to drive, because if you leave at the time I suggested, you will be there early on a Saturday morning, (8:00-8:30), before all the stores and outlets open, and on a getaway day, at that. Most of the cars on the road that you'll see will be heading in the opposite direction.

Most times, I average 10 1/2 hours, (with three stops, two for gas) and have actually done the trip at 10 hours from time to time (just one stop for gas), and that was while driving through a storm that seemed to be right on top of me from New Jersey to North Carolina.

I have neighbors that do the same trip as me every year, but they stop in Emporia, Virginia for an overnight just to break the trip up. To me, that's a waste of valuable vacation time AND money, so I recommend just driving straight through. There will come a time when the ride will become tedious, but right around then, the sun will start to rise, the warm air of the Carolina's will envelope you, and you'll get your second wind.

One last thing. I usually take a nap for around 3-4 hours before I leave my house for this trip. That's a definite requirement for a through-the-night drive.

Good luck.