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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina. For the entire length of the highway, see U.S. Route 17.
U.S. Route 17 shield
U.S. Route 17
Maintained by South Carolina Department of Transportation

Major Highways in South Carolina with US 17 in red.
Length: 221 mi (356 km)
South end: US 17 near Savannah, GA
Major
junctions:		 I-95 / US 321 in Hardeeville

US 278 from Hardeeville to Ridgeland
I-95 from Ridgeland to Coosawhatchie

US 17 Alt. / US 21 in Pocotaligo
US 21 from Pocotaligo to Gardens Corner
US 78 in Charleston
I-26 in Charleston
US 52 in Charleston

US 17 Alt. / US 521 / US 701 in Georgetown
US 501 in Myrtle Beach
North end: US 17 near Calabash, NC
South Carolina highways
< SC 16 SC 18 >

In the U.S. state of South Carolina, U.S. Route 17 (US 17) is a north–south highway located near the Atlantic Ocean. The route enters the state from Georgia at the Savannah River and serves Charleston and Myrtle Beach before entering North Carolina near Calabash.

Contents

Route description

US 17 enters into South Carolina in Jasper County as a two-lane road and within eight miles (13 km) enters Hardeeville, where it becomes a four-lane configuration. US 17 intersects Interstate 95 at Exit 5 in Hardeeville and after the intersection with US 321, runs parallel to Interstate 95 until Ridgeland, where it merges with the interstate at Exit 22 until Point South. At Point South, US 17 leaves I-95 at Exit 33 and heads eastward into northern Beaufort County, sharing a concurrency with U.S. 21 until Gardens Corner. US 21 splits off to Beaufort while US 17 heads northeast into the ACE Basin and Colleton County.

The stretch of US 17 between Gardens Corner and Jacksonboro is a scenic yet rural two-lane road configuration that has proven to be a very dangerous and deadly stretch for motorists. SCDoT is working on improving portions of the roadway, including widening some portions and reducing the speed limits. Once in Jacksonboro, the road enters into Charleston County crossing over the Edisto River and regaining a four-lane configuration for the remainder of the state. The road passes through several rural communities as it approaches Charleston from the west. Just before the interchange with Interstate 526, major commercial development starts and continues into the West Ashley neighborhood of Charleston until the Ashley River.

In Charleston, US 17 traverses the Ashley River Drawbridges and comes onto the Charleston Peninsula, being routed north of the historical areas of the city. The first portion is at-grade and has a few traffic-signals for flow purposes. Upon reaching the Interstate 26 terminus, US 17 becomes limited-access and above grade as it approaches the Cooper River via the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge and the stretch of US 17 in Charleston is infamous among locals for its traffic congestion, especially on weekday mornings. The 3.6-mile (5.8 km) section running from S.C. Highway 171 to Sam Rittenberg Boulevard has been named the "Charleston Nine Memorial Highway", in honor of nine Charleston firefighters killed in the line of duty in the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire on June 18, 2007.[1]

Upon crossing the river, the highway enters Mount Pleasant at grade and is signalized for several miles up through the second interchange with Interstate 526 and connecting roads to the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. The road leaves the Charleston metro area by entering into the Francis Marion National Forest and going through the rural communities of Awendaw and McClellanville on its northeastern journey to Georgetown. US 17 makes a spectacular crossing of the marsh-lined Santee River as it enters Georgetown County. After going around the charming city of Georgetown, US 17 crosses eastward over the Waccamaw / Pee Dee river system before making a northward turn along the Grand Strand.

The last component of US 17 runs close to the Atlantic, beginning at the Hobcaw Baronry and DeBordieu, passing by Pawleys Island and going around Litchfield Beach. It then enters into Horry County and passing Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet and arriving in Myrtle Beach. US 17 splits here between a business route and the standard route, which remains west of the beach and tourist areas served by Business 17. The roads rejoin north of the city and continue as US 17 through Atlantic Beach, North Myrtle Beach, and Little River before crossing into North Carolina over the Little River bridge. The portions from Murrells Inlet to the state line are quite congested at times, though the soon to be constructed Interstate 73 should assist in alleviating many traffic issues.

History

The route was part of the 1926 approved plan for a national system of highways, and appears on the approved map. When first signed, US 17 followed a route that went through Florence and Marion.[2] The original route through South Carolina was 288 miles (463 km) long.

At this time, U.S. routes in South Carolina used a dual-numbering system; US Route 17 was also signed SC 1 from Georgia to Yemasse, SC 30 from Yemassee to Walterboro, SC 6 from Walterboro to Charleston, SC 2 from Charleston to Goose Creek, SC 41 from Goose Creek to Florence, SC 3 from Florence to North Carolina.[3][4] By 1928, all of the dual numbers had been removed except for SC 2.[4] The entire route from Georgia to North Carolina was paved by 1930.[5]

The early routing was already identified to be shifted to the Kings Highway which would pass through Myrtle Beach and Georgetown.[2] The re-routing occurred in 1935.[4]

The first tourist welcome center in South Carolina opened in February 1968 on US 17 near Little River.[6]

Counties

Service area

  • Little River Welcome Center/Rest Area

Major intersections

Exit list

County Location Mile Destinations Notes
Horry County, South Carolina-Brunswick County, North Carolina Border
US 17 continues north into North Carolina
Horry Little River
0.7 Greystone Blvd
SC 179 north Calabash, NC		 Southern terminus of South Carolina 179
1.9 Mineola Avenue - Little River, Brooksville Signed as (East) and (West)
3.9 Fairway Drive
SC 90 west – Nixons Crossroads		 Eastern terminus of South Carolina 90
North Myrtle Beach
4.6 SC 9 west – Longs, Loris West end of South Carolina 9 overlap
5.3 Bridge across the Intracoastal Waterway
5.7 SC 9 east – Cherry Grove Beach East end of South Carolina 9 overlap
7.8 Robert Edge Parkway
Main Street		 Signed as Robert Edge Parkway (West) and Main Street (East)
Atlantic Beach 8.1 SC 65 north (Ocean Dr.) – Crescent Beach Southern terminus of South Carolina 65
Briarcliffe Acres 14.1 SC 22 west – Conway Eastern Terminus of South Carolina 22
0.0 Kings Road
Mall Access Road - Myrtle Beach Mall		 Signed as Kings Road (West) Mall Access Road (East)
16.3
US 17 Bus. south – Myrtle Beach		 Northern Terminus of U.S. 17 Business
Myrtle Beach 19.5 Robert Grissom Parkway
Downtown Myrtle Beach
Carolina Forest		 Exit to reach International Drive
20.5 29th Avenue Signed as (East) and (West)
21.6 21st Avenue Signed as (East) and (West)
22.7 10th Avenue Signed as (East) and (West)
23.8 US 501 – Myrtle Beach, Red Hill, Conway Full Interchange
24.8 Pine Island Road Northern Terminus
26.9 Harrelson Boulevard
Airport Sign.svg Myrtle Beach International Airport
Pine Island		 Under Construction
Socastee 28.5 Farrow Parkway
SC 707 south – Burgess, Socastee		 Northern and Southern terminuses of South Carolina 707 and Farrow Parkway
29.7 SC 544 – Surfside Beach, Socastee, Conway
Georgetown Murrells Inlet 31.6 SC 707 – Burgess, Socastee, Murrells Inlet
35.7
US 17 Bus. north – Murrells Inlet, Garden City		 Southern Terminus of U.S. 17 Business
56.3 L.W. Stau Bridge across the Waccamaw River (Intracoastal Waterway)
Georgetown 58.5
US 17 Alt. north / US 521 / US 701 – Andrews, Sampit, Plantersville		 Southern and Northern terminuses of US 17 ALT, US 521 & US 701
59.8 Bridge across the Sampit River
73.8 Bridge across the Santee River
Charleston McClellanville 0.12 SC 45 north – Honey Hill Southern terminus of South Carolina 45
Mount Pleasant 0.13 SC 41 north – Huger Southern terminus of South Carolina 41
0.14 SC 517 south – Isle of Palms Northern terminus of South Carolina 517
0.15 I-526 – Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Johns Island
0.16 SC 703 (Coleman Blvd) – Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge across the Cooper River
Charleston 0.17 Spur plate.svg
US 52.svg US 52 Spur (E. Bay St./Morrison Dr.) - Dwtn. Charleston		 Southbound exit only
0.18 US 52 (Meeting Street) Southbound exit only
0.19 I-26 west – North Charleston, Orangeburg Southbound Exit only signed as Exit 220B;Eastern Terminus of I-26
0.25 Carolina Street
To US 78 (King Street) – Charleston		 Southbound exit only
0.27 I-526 – North Charleston, James Island, Folly Beach
Ashley River Memorial Bridge across the Ashley River
Johns Island 0.29 SC 61 to SC 171 / SC 700 – Summerville, James Island, Rockville
0.31 SC 7 north (Sam Rittenburg Blvd) – St. Andrews, North Charleston Southern terminus of South Carolina 7
Colleton Jacksonboro 0.33 SC 64 west – Walterboro Eastern terminus of South Carolina 64
Green Pond 0.34 SC 303 north – Ritter, Walterboro Southern terminus of South Carolina 303
Beaufort Gardens Corner 0.35 US 21 south – Beaufort shared route
Pocotaligo 0.37
US 17 Alt. north / US 21 – Yemassee, Ruffin, Walterboro		 End of Concurrency
Jasper Ridgeland 0.38 I-95 north – Walterboro, St. George South end of Interstate 95 overlap
0.39 I-95 south – Hardeeville North end of Interstate 95 overlap
0.40 US 278 west / SC 336 – Tillman, Gillisonville shared route
Hardeeville 0.42 US 278 east – Hilton Head Island
0.43 US 321 north / SC 46 east – Tillman, Pritchardville Northern terminus of US 321
0.45 I-95 – Ridgeland, Savannah, GA
0.46 SC 170 east – Pritchardville East end of South Carolina 170 overlap
0.48 SC 170 west – Limehouse West end of South Carolina 170 overlap
US 17 crosses the Savannah River
Chatham County, Georgia-Jasper County, South Carolina Border

Bannered Routes

See also: Bannered routes of U.S. Route 17

Alternate



U.S. Route 17 Alternate
Location South Carolina
Length 123.4 mi (199 km)

US 17 Alt is an alternate route of U.S. Route 17 in South Carolina was created in either 1951 or 1952, as a replacement for mainline U.S. 17 Alt. that runs from Pocotaligo to Georgetown and three other state highways between Walterboro and Georgetown. It is 123.4 miles (198.6 km) long and has been four-laned in various segments since 1970.

Business



U.S. Route 17 Business
Location Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Length 22.9 mi (37 km)

US 17 Bus. also known as Kings Highway is a 22.9 mile (36.85 km) business route of U.S. Route 17. From the parent route that runs from Murrells Inlet north to Briarcliffe Acres. Traveling southbound, it connects with the bypass route at the Horry/Georgetown county lines; the business route continues along the waterfront of Murrells Inlet until rejoining the mainline route near Garden City. The road is also a major route during the Bi-Lo marathon weekend; miles 9-12 and also 20-24 run through this highway during the marathon.

By-Pass



U.S. Route 17 Bypass
Location Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Length 22.9 mi (37 km)

US 17 By-Pass is a 22.9 mile (36.85 km) By-Pass route of U.S. Route 17 from the parent that runs from Murrells Inlet to Briarcliffe Acres. Traveling south and north and it connects at the Horry/Georgetown county lines; the By-Pass continues along the waterfront of Murrells Inlet until the mainline route in Socastee. The road is also a major route with Interchanges and traffic lights and the opening Myrtle Beach International Airport.

References

  • Moore, John Hammond (1987). The South Carolina Highway Department, 1917–1987. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 0-87249-528-0. 
  1. ^ U.S. 17 stretch to honor firefighters who died in sofa store blaze The Post and Courier, March 25, 2008. Accessed March 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b DeLysle, Jack, Map of the Official Atlantic Coastal Highway, 1929. University of South Carolina Map Collections.
  3. ^ Moore 1987, pp. 74–75.
  4. ^ a b c Roberson, M. (July 17, 2006). "US 17". Mapmikey's South Carolina Highways Page. http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/scroads/us17.html. Retrieved October 12, 2009. 
  5. ^ Moore 1987, p. 139.
  6. ^ Moore 1987, p. 244.

External links

U.S. Route 17
Previous state:
Georgia		 South Carolina Next state:
North Carolina







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