Driving from Wilmington, NC to Myrtle Beach Airport (MYR): ~1h 35m

The drive from Wilmington, North Carolina to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) in South Carolina covers approximately 75–80 miles (120–130 km) and takes 1 hour 35 minutes under normal conditions.

Primary Route

US-17 S (Ocean Highway) → SC-31 S (Carolina Bays Parkway) → US-501 S → MYR

• Wilmington → US-17 S (cross Cape Fear Bridge) → Shallotte → NC/SC state line
• Enter SC → Continue US-17 S → SC-31 S (toll-free limited-access bypass) → US-501 S to airport
• Alternative: Stay on US-17 S all the way (more signals, commercial strips, ~10 min longer).

Traffic Variables

• Summer weekends (Memorial–Labor Day): Add 30–60+ min (beach traffic).
• Hurricane evacuation: US-17/SC-31 become contraflow; allow 3+ hours.
• Accidents: Two-lane sections of US-17 (NC) have no shoulders; incidents cause long delays.
• Construction: Check DriveNC.gov / SCDOT 511.

Airport Arrival Tips

• MYR recommends arrival 90 min (domestic) / 2 hr (intl) before departure.
• Parking: Economy ($7/day), Hourly ($1/hr, $14/day), Valet ($18/day). Book online for discount.
• Rental car return: Follow signs to consolidated facility (on-airport).

Alternative Transport

• Shuttle services: $40–60 one-way (shared), $100+ private.
• No direct public transit between cities.
• Flight: ILM → MYR not served non-stop; connect via CLT/ATL (3+ hrs total).

The US-17/SC-31 corridor is the lifeline of the Grand Strand—plan extra time in peak season.