You're standing in a DFW parking lot, the heat is shimmering off the asphalt, and you've decided that the Gulf of Mexico just isn't doing it for you this year. You want the Atlantic. Specifically, you want the Grand Strand. But here is the thing about driving from Dallas TX to Myrtle Beach SC: it is a beast of a trip that people constantly underestimate.
Most folks look at a map and think, "Oh, it's just a straight shot across the South."
Nope. Not even close.
It’s roughly 1,150 miles of changing scenery, fluctuating gas prices, and some of the most deceptively tiring stretches of highway in the United States. If you’re gunning it, you’re looking at 17 to 19 hours of actual wheels-turning time. That doesn't account for the inevitable Chick-fil-A stop in Birmingham or the nightmare that is Atlanta traffic at 4:00 PM on a Tuesday.
Honestly, it’s a marathon.
The Interstate 20 Reality Check
Most GPS units will default you onto I-20 East. It’s the logical choice. You leave Dallas, hit Shreveport, cross the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, and roll through Jackson. It sounds simple. However, the stretch between Shreveport and Jackson is notorious for its bridge transitions and occasional road wear that will rattle your teeth if you’re driving anything smaller than a Tahoe.
Don't skip Vicksburg.
Seriously. Even if you aren't a history buff, the Vicksburg National Military Park offers a necessary break from the monotony of the pine trees. It’s a chance to stretch your legs before you commit to the long haul across Alabama.
Mississippi moves fast. Alabama feels longer than it is. By the time you hit Birmingham, you’ve been driving for about nine or ten hours. This is where most Dallas travelers make their first big mistake. They try to push through to Atlanta in one day.
Don't do that.
Atlanta is the "final boss" of this road trip. If you hit the I-285 loop or the downtown connector during rush hour, you can easily add two hours to your trip. It’s a soul-crushing experience after ten hours in a car. If you're coming from Dallas TX to Myrtle Beach SC, plan to stay the night somewhere like Douglasville or even Leeds, Alabama, just to avoid the morning commute in Georgia.
Fuel, Food, and the Buc-ee's Factor
You’re a Texan, or at least you’re starting in Texas, so you know the cult of Buc-ee's.
You might think you’ll lose that comfort once you cross the state line. You won’t. There are massive Buc-ee's locations in Robertsdale (if you dip south) and, more importantly, in Leeds, Alabama, and Calhoun, Georgia. However, for the direct route to Myrtle, the Florence, South Carolina location is your beacon of hope.
It’s right near the finish line.
But let's talk real food. If you want the authentic transition from Texas brisket to Carolina pork, you have to stop in Georgia or western South Carolina. The vinegar-based sauces start appearing once you cross the Savannah River. It’s a culinary shock for someone used to heavy molasses and bark, but embrace it.
Flying vs. Driving: The Math Nobody Does Correctly
Flying from DFW or Love Field to Myrtle Beach International (MYR) is hit or miss.
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American Airlines often runs non-stops during the peak summer season, usually starting around May. If you catch one of those, you’re on the beach in under three hours. Easy.
But outside of that window? You're connecting. Usually in Charlotte (CLT) or Atlanta (ATL).
- The Hidden Cost of Flying: By the time you pay for an Uber to DFW, checked bags for your beach gear, and a rental car in Myrtle Beach—which are notoriously expensive in July—you might be out $1,200 for a family of four.
- The Driving Reality: At 20 MPG and an average gas price of $3.25 (highly variable, obviously), you’re looking at roughly $375 in gas round trip. Add a hotel night each way, and you’re still under $800.
Plus, you can pack your own cooler and beach umbrellas. Have you seen the prices for umbrella rentals on 2nd Ave North lately? It's highway robbery.
Navigating the South Carolina "Stretch"
Once you pass Atlanta, you're on I-20 East heading toward Augusta. This is arguably the most boring part of the drive. It's just trees. Miles and miles of Georgia pines.
The transition from I-20 to the local highways is where the trip from Dallas TX to Myrtle Beach SC gets "kinda" tricky. When you hit Florence, SC, the interstate ends for you. You’ll likely hop on US-501.
Warning: 501 is the bottleneck of all bottlenecks.
On a Saturday during check-in season (late June through August), 501 moves at the speed of a tectonic plate. Everyone from Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania is merging into this one vein to get to the coast.
Expert Shortcut: The Conway Bypass
If you see 501 backed up on your Waze app—and it will be—look for SC-22 (The Conway Bypass). It’s a much smoother ride that dumps you out on the north end of Myrtle Beach near Briarcliffe Acres. It adds a few miles but saves you the agony of 45 stoplights through the town of Conway.
Why Myrtle Beach Still Wins Over the Gulf
People in Dallas always ask: "Why not just go to Destin?"
It’s a fair question. Destin is closer. The water is clearer.
But Myrtle Beach has a specific "vibe" that the Florida Panhandle lacks. It’s the nostalgia. It’s the 60 miles of continuous sand. It’s the fact that you can find a reasonably priced oceanfront condo that isn't part of a $900-a-night resort.
Myrtle Beach is also the golf capital of the world. If you're coming from the Dallas golf scene, playing at TPC Myrtle Beach or Caledonia is a completely different experience than the flat, windy courses of North Texas. The humidity here holds the ball differently. The greens are often Bermuda grass, which Dallasites will find familiar, but the coastal winds add a layer of complexity you just don't get at Tenison Park or Stevens Park.
Seasonality and the Hurricane Risk
We have to talk about the weather.
Dallas has tornadoes; Myrtle Beach has hurricanes. The peak of the season is September, but the "sweet spot" for this trip is actually late May or early June. The water is warm enough to swim, but the humidity hasn't reached the "I feel like I'm breathing soup" level yet.
If you go in August, be prepared. It’s a different kind of heat than the dry bake of a Texas summer. It’s a sticky, salty heat that makes your hair do things you didn't know it could do.
Essential Stops for the Discerning Traveler
- Vicksburg National Military Park (MS): Even a 30-minute drive through the loop is worth it.
- The Bright Star (Bessemer, AL): It’s one of the oldest restaurants in the country. Get the Greek-style snapper. It’s a weird find in the middle of Alabama, but it’s legendary.
- Buckner’s Family Restaurant (Jackson, GA): If you want real, pass-the-platter southern food, this is about 15 minutes off the path but worth every calorie.
- The Pee Dee State Farmers Market (Florence, SC): Grab some local peaches or boiled peanuts for the final hour of the drive.
Logistics You Probably Forgot
Check your tires. The heat on I-20 through Louisiana and Mississippi can be brutal on older rubber. Blowouts are common in the summer months.
Also, South Carolina highway patrol does not play around. Once you cross the state line past Augusta, you'll see them. They love to sit in the median where the speed limit drops near small towns.
When you finally arrive, the transition from the dry Dallas air to the salt spray of the Atlantic is almost therapeutic. You’ve crossed four states. You’ve survived Atlanta. You’ve probably eaten more gas station beef jerky than you care to admit.
But seeing the SkyWheel on the horizon makes it real.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your vehicle: If you’re driving, get an oil change and a coolant check at least a week before you leave.
- Book the "In-Between" Hotel: Use an app to find a spot in Birmingham or eastern Alabama. Do not try to book "on the fly" in the summer; youth sports tournaments often fill up every Hampton Inn on the I-20 corridor.
- Download Offline Maps: There are dead zones in eastern Mississippi and rural South Carolina where your Spotify will cut out and your GPS might spin.
- Time the Atlanta Bypass: Aim to hit the I-285 loop either before 6:30 AM or after 7:30 PM. There is no in-between "light" traffic window.
- Verify the Conway Bypass Route: Set your GPS to "Avoid Tolls" or "Fastest Route" specifically looking for SC-22 to save yourself from the 501 traffic nightmare.