Myrtle Beach Message Board

Okay, I posted earlier for confirmation of directions from Columbus, Ohio, (and I have received some responses thank you!). But now I need directions from Pittsburgh for my sister. I'm at a loss to help her, but I knew someone on here could give us some insight.

What would be the best route from Pittsburgh to South Myrtle Beach (we're staying at Myrtle Beach Resort).

Like me, she would also like to stay on route where she can get around the semis and rvs.

Thanks!

Here is the route I take every year, but I do travel at night. It is a few off highway roads that are single lane, but not much traffic on them. I posted them in the link below. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

http://www.funbeaches.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3572

We also like to travel at night. You don't have as much traffic on I-95

Turnpike to Breezewood
70 East to Hancock, MD
522 South to just before Winchester
37 North for 2 miles
81 South for 2-3 miles
17 East to Fredericksburg, VA (Just under the underpass, easy to miss)
(17 bypass to Fredericksburg)
Continue 17 South to Fredericksburg

I 95 South
295 around Richmond, VA)
Continue 95 South to Smithfield, NC
701 South
I 40 East to Wilmington
17 South to Myrtle Beach

Here's my two cents worth. If it was my sister and she wasn't an experienced traveler, this is how I would send her.

South on I 79 into WV. Exit 57 pick up Rt 19 south to Beckley. It has a reputation as a speed trap but it has been over blown. Because of accidents they patrol the road heavly as a safety precaution. Not a money scam. Just tell her to watch speed espeicially through Summersville and Fayetteville. Should be no problem.

Pick-up I 77 south at Beckley. Small toll entering at Beckley and another $1.25 about 20 miles south. Through Beckley I 77 and I 64 run together. Just south of Beckley they split. Stay in right lane for I 77 south. Very well marked but you would be surprised how many people don't pay attention and head off the wrong way.

I 77 on into VA. At Wythville VA I 77 south will run north with I 81 for approx 15-20 miles. At Fort Chiswell she'll see I 77 veering off to the right. Again. Very well marked. Hard to miss. Just stay in right lane.

I 77 south to Charlotte and through Charlotte. A few left side merge and exits. Stay in center or center two lanes to avoid getting caught in outside lane with merging or exiting traffic. Depending on time of day it should be smooth sailing through town.

Stay on I 77 into SC. Exit 34. Ridgeway. Can't miss it. Third lane for trucks on a hill and Exit 34 is at top of hill. Turn left at top of ramp onto Rt 34 towards Ridgeway. Approx two miles into town. RR tracks on your left. Two crossings. Either one works.

Turn left across tracks. Go one block and turn right. Two to three blocks through town. Nice little Mayberry type town with several antique stores...... Sorry. Gettin carryed away. Far end of town Rt 34 bears off to the left.

Follow Rt 34 about 20 miles to Lugoff. This is the only two lane road of the trip but it's very straight, no turns and little traffic. Stoplight at Lugoff. MacDonalds on left and Shoney's on right. Turn right at light and stay in right lane. Takes you across overpass and out two mile four lane to I 20.

East on I 20 to Florence. Where she will start seeing "Beach Traffic" signs. They will direct her north on I 95. I 95 north to exit 170. Top of ramp turn right onto Rt 327. Rt 327 to Rt 76. Left on Rt 76.

Rt 76 to Marion. Follow "Beach Traffic" signs. Stay in right lane and you'll end up on Rt 501. From there it's a toss up to the south end of MB.

This route is only 28 miles longer than shortest route. Less traffic. Fewer stoplights and speed zones. Higher MPH average. Do the math.

Thanks so much folks! I'll send your comments to my sister. She is traveling at night - leaving the Pittsburgh area Thursday at about 10:00pm. Thanks especially to pop2748 - very specific directions! I love it. It's great to have "landmarks" to follow. I'll try to post a trip report when we return.

We are leaving next week also and planned on going down 95 way and stopping in Williamsburg for a night is that a crazy plan or what?

Well, it's not crazy, but Williamsburg is a bit of a drive out of the way. Enjoy!

Pop2748 we have never taken that I-77 route past Charlotte, always the diagonal Winston-Salem/Greensboro/Rockingham route. We might try your way this year, we've heard of others up here who prefer it too. Thanks.

Last few trips we've experimented with the Rockingham route. Took a few tries but I finally managed to navigate Rockingham without missing a turn.

I would now say it's a toss up which way is best. We seldom run the same pace two trips in a row so it's hard to compare drive times from one trip to another.

The amount of four lane vs two lane either way is pretty much equal.

Still maybe 50 miles difference in distance between the two routes.. Average MPH probably still in longer route's favor but not by much.

Only "problem" we had with Rockingham route was not knowing where gas, food and restrooms were at. Asheboro to Rockingham pretty much undeveloped. Same with Lauinburg to Whiteville on RT 74. We'll (she'll) know next time.

We always just avoid DC and Richmond. Our route takes us...

70 East to 81 South
81 South to 64 East <---------- This keeps you away from DC and Richmond
64 East to 288 South <----------- This is back east and the big loop around Richmond
288 South to 95 South
95 South to 501

We take 220 South from Greensboro, NC to Rockingham and stay straight at the lights as you enter Rockingham, which puts you on US 1 for just a couple of miles until you get to Hwy 74. There's a nice large gas station with a Hardees there where 1 passes over 74 that we always stop at as our half-way point.

From 74 we take 38, 9, and then 501 the rest of the way, but I'm still looking for a better route for that half of the trip. Going to Whiteville on 74 seems like a long way around unless you're going far North Myrtle. We typically take 74 to just past Whiteville when traveling to Holden Beach, NC.

You might want to check out various parts of the following posts for an alternate that you mentioned you were looking for:

http://funbeaches.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9819

http://funbeaches.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9946

http://funbeaches.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7749

The last few times, we did not even hit 501 much. We like to avoid it as much as possible.