Raleigh to Myrtle Beach drive: Distance, time & best stops

Planning a Raleigh to Myrtle Beach road trip itinerary

The Raleigh to Myrtle Beach drive connects the capital of North Carolina to one of South Carolina’s top vacation spots.

Raleigh NC offers a series of high quality museums. The North Carolina Museum of History, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina Museum of Art are the three big-hitters. Meanwhile, the Mordecai Historic Park is where you’ll find Raleigh’s oldest house and the William B Umstead State Park is the top spot for outdoorsy pursuits.

Top Raleigh activities include trolley pub tours and ghost tours.

For Raleigh accommodation, the Marriott is the prime address downtown and the Store is a gorgeous guesthouse.

Myrtle Beach is a beach resort city on the Atlantic coast of South Carolina. Good Myrtle Beach experiences include a history, movies and music trolley tour, guided kayaking adventures and Huntington Beach State Park Segway tour.

There are also several shows on offer. Try the Charles Bach Wonders show for magic, Legends in Concert for tribute acts and the Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show for dancing and fire stunts.

It’s worth booking Myrtle Beach accommodation in advance. For the best deals, check here.

Raleigh to Myrtle Beach distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Raleigh to Myrtle Beach is 179 miles. That makes for a driving time of around three hours.

The best stops to add to a Raleigh to Myrtle Beach road trip itinerary are Fayetteville NC, Lumberton NC and Lumber River State Park.

Raleigh to Myrtle Beach road trip attractions: Fayetteville NC

The main lure in Fayetteville NC is the Museum of the Cape Fear, which unveils local history over several buildings. The most handsome of these is the 1897 Poe House, which is most notable for its intricate Victoria verandas. Also on the site is Arsenal Park, the remains of a former ordnance factory used by both the Federal and Confederate governments. Also worth a look is the Cape Fear Botanical Garden, which covers 80 acres.

Good Fayetteville accommodation options include the Mt Rose Hotel for value and the Fairfield Inn and Suites for space.

Best stops between Raleigh NC and Myrtle Beach SC: Lumberton NC

Lumberton NC has a handful of attractive parks. The lakeside trails and playgrounds of the Luther Britt Park are probably the most appealing for visitors. On a cultural level, the Robeson County History Museum covers local history and the Exploration Station lets children learn through play.

Raleigh to Myrtle Beach drive: Lumber River State Park

The Princess Ann section of the Lumber River State Park has two miles of hiking trails. But it tends to be kayakers, rather than walkers, who get the best out of this state park. The camp sites here include paddle-in sites, while paddlers can spot a wonderful array of plant and animal life while gliding along the river. Keep an eye out for the belted kingfisher.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Photo by 1778011.

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