This featured ride is from the Moto-Maps® South Carolina booklet and was created and reported by the company’s founder, Keith Myers.

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This ride starts and ends in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and makes a 145 mile loop along the state’s northern seaboard and country back roads. The ride covers some pretty rural areas – and even though you will have places to stop for fuel along the way, it might be a good idea to top-off before you start the ride.

The ride starts at the junction of route 17 Business and Ocean Blvd. (Rt.73) between Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach.  It’s a convenient place to start the ride if you’re staying on the strip but if you’re staying outside of town, you may want to make one of the suggested alternate routes as your starting point.  I was there off-season and the traffic was pretty heavy – just wait until peak season!

The ride starts with a cruise down Ocean Boulevard - past hotels, restaurants and boardwalk attractions.  Most of the ocean views are blocked by high-rise hotels but many of the side streets do allow a view of the ocean as well as access to the beach.  After about 10 miles, Ocean Blvd. intersects with Route 17 Business. It’s still a bit congested here until you head towards Murrells Inlet and then eventually turn onto Route 17 south.

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Follow Route 17 to Georgetown giving yourself time to explore some of the roads that branch out towards the seacoast. In Georgetown, turn right onto Route 701.  Route 701 quickly moves you through the city and before you know it you're cruising through the South Carolina countryside.  After 24 miles, keep an eye out for Pee Dee Highway on your left-hand side.  Pee Dee Highway is a great road that runs parallel to the Little Pee Dee River and follows in the same direction as the more congested Route 501.  The entire length of the road feels like a step back into time - the original road served as a truck route in the 1920's.  The Pee Dee Highway offers no technical challenges but does have enough curves to make it interesting.  At about 17 miles, look for the fork in the road and bear left.  The name changes from here to Pee Dee Rd. and continues as an enjoyable ride all the way to Route 917.  At Route 917 you can take the suggested alternate route by turning left, looping around to Nichols, SC and then taking Nichols Hwy. or follow the highlighted ride by turning right onto Route 917 and follow it for seven miles to Hwy. 19. 

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Highway 19 is another enjoyable country road that begins leading you back towards Myrtle Beach.  The road runs for almost 20 miles through mostly farmlands before bringing you to Route 905.  Turn right onto Route 905 and then make a quick left - just 3/10ths of a mile down the road - onto Old Reeves Ferry Rd.  Old Reeves Ferry Road is a fantastic 7 mile run that brings you to Route 90.

The rest of the ride - from Route 90 on - takes you back to the start point.  Depending on where you're staying, you may want to follow the ride steps or you may want to take the alternate route that leads you to Conway, SC.  Either way, I recommend that you do the ride in the morning so that you still have plenty of time to enjoy the beach!