Myrtle Beach Message Board

I am making my first driving trip to Garden City since my mom passed away 5 years ago.... she was my navigator to get me there the best route... I know it was mostly 95 but she got me around Washingotn and some other big traffic areas. Also, I believe the routes have changed a bit in SC...can anyone give me advice? I leave Oct 3rd for the month.I am so excited....Have to stop at a K-W in memory of my mom.

Cathy, our thoughts will be with you as you make this bittersweet trip. I'm sure you'll be filled with memories of trips to MB with your mom. Keep some tissues handy!

If you're heading straight down I-95, you can get around DC by taking 495 either east or west. They both connect back with 95 south of DC.

Another big traffic area is Richmond, VA. You can take I-295 east to avoid Richmond. If you look at the map, it looks like it goes waaaay out of the way, but if you check mileage it's actually only five miles longer to go 295.

We almost always take I-40 to Wilmington and then down Route 17 to MB, so if you're going a different way I can't help you with that. I'm sure someone else will. I think there are almost as many combinations of ways to get to MB as there are members of this message board.

God bless!

If you like scenic trips, after you get on 40 (should you go that way) hop on 701 SOUTH. Lots of farms and stuff, but also plenty of places to stop for things: fast food, gas, restrooms etc. Once you've been on 701, you'll see plenty of signs to get you to Myrtle Beach.

We went in from that direction last year. Followed somebody's directions off the board.

Hopped off I 95 at Wilson, NC. Ran I 795/RT 117 down to I 40.
From there you pretty much follow signs to MB.
I 40 down to I 140. I 140 around Wilmington to RT 17.
All fourlane.

Also as soon as you cross into SC you'll be in Little River. (close enough to say you are anyway)
Take RT 9 (towards Dillon) for maybe a mile to RT 31.
RT 31 will run you to RT 544 at south end of Strand without any stoplights or traffic.

Cathy, As you know we come several times a year from Philly. Alot of your directions depend on the time of day travelig. As a rule we also try to avoid a 50 mile radius of DC between the hours of 3pm to 8pm.

We take 95 South out of Philly to 495 South around Wilmington De, back onto 95 until almost to Baltimore. Here we follow the 895 Tunnel route. Once through the tunnel ( 5 miles? ) we get on 295 South (Baltimore Washington Parkway) which will you run you into the Eastside of the 495 Washington Beltway. This is where it will be crowded if you have not timed it properly. Follow 495/95 towards Richmond. Once approaching Richmand we take the 295 South bypass around Richmond. This adds a few miles but the speed limit on 95 ( drops to 55mph ) and crowds in and around Richmond make it longer than the high speed, lightly traveled bypass.

Once back on 95 the choices above are all good alternatives. We normally stay on 95 (high rate of speed in NC ) all the way to South of the Border and follow 501 into MB.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks to everyone for the directions and tips. I leave Friday and am very excited to be heading there. Its going to be a very hard trip emotionally but my mom loved Garden City so I plan to sit on the beach and have happy memories.
Thanks again,
Cathy