Most Ocean Lakes Family Campground guests drive in from the Carolinas, Virginia, or Georgia. The five most common drive markets are Charlotte (about 3.5 hours), Raleigh (about 3 hours), Greensboro (about 3.5 hours), Columbia (about 2.5 hours), and Atlanta (about 5.5 hours). Ocean Lakes is located at 6001 South Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575, approximately four miles south of downtown Myrtle Beach (per Ocean Lakes Family Campground, https://www.oceanlakes.com/). This guide walks through what each drive looks like and what to know before you head out.
Most of my guests drive in from somewhere within a half-day of Myrtle Beach. The arrivals that go smoothly have a few things in common, and a lot of it comes down to when you leave and which route you take.
What’s the address for Ocean Lakes?
6001 South Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575. Plug that into any navigation app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze) and you’ll be routed to the front gate. Don’t rely on “Ocean Lakes” as the destination name without a full address. There are other lakes and place names that can confuse navigation systems.
How long is the drive from Charlotte to Ocean Lakes?
Distance: 182 miles
Drive time: approximately 3 hours 38 minutes
Best route: I-485 East to US-74 East, then US-501 South into Myrtle Beach. The final stretch runs on US-17 Business South to Kings Highway.
Friday afternoons in summer are the worst time to leave Charlotte if you’re heading to Ocean Lakes. The 74 East corridor backs up significantly between 3 PM and 7 PM during peak season. If you can leave by mid-morning or after dinner, you’ll save 30 to 60 minutes.
How long is the drive from Raleigh to Ocean Lakes?
Distance: approximately 182 miles
Drive time: approximately 3 hours
Best route: I-40 East to I-95 South to US-501 South. US-501 is the main approach from the north and west.
The Raleigh-to-Myrtle-Beach corridor is one of the most traveled summer routes in the Southeast. US-501 between Conway and Myrtle Beach gets congested on Fridays and Saturdays during the summer season, so plan accordingly.
How long is the drive from Greensboro to Ocean Lakes?
Distance: 196 miles
Drive time: approximately 3 hours 28 minutes
Best route: US-220 South or I-73 South to US-74 East to US-501 South. The route mirrors the Charlotte approach for the last 2 hours.
If you’ve got grandparents in the car or kids who need bathroom breaks, Asheboro is the typical halfway stop. There’s plenty of fast food and gas along the US-220 / US-74 corridor.
How long is the drive from Columbia to Ocean Lakes?
Distance: approximately 152 miles
Drive time: approximately 2 hours 39 minutesÂ
Best route: I-20 East to I-95 North briefly, then US-378 East / US-76 East to US-501 South. Or take the slightly slower but more direct US-378 East all the way.
This is the shortest of the major drive routes. Columbia families regularly do Ocean Lakes as a long weekend rather than a full week because the drive is so easy!
How long is the drive from Atlanta to Ocean Lakes?
Distance: 353 miles
Drive time: approximately 5 hours 34 minutes
Best route: I-20 East from Atlanta to Columbia, SC, then continuing on I-20 East and US-378 East / US-76 East to US-501 South. Effectively: Atlanta to Columbia to Myrtle Beach.
For Atlanta families, this is a real road trip. Plan two stops, one halfway between Atlanta and Columbia, and one halfway between Columbia and Myrtle Beach. The drive crosses two state lines and three travel regions of the Southeast.
What’s traffic usually like on the final stretch?
The last 20 to 30 minutes of any approach to Ocean Lakes runs along US-17 (Kings Highway) or US-501 through Myrtle Beach. In peak summer, this stretch is congested every Saturday from late morning through mid-afternoon when guests at every campground and rental in the area are checking in or checking out. If your check-in time is 4 PM and you arrive at 1 PM, plan to grab lunch, fuel, and last-minute groceries before pulling into Ocean Lakes. You’ll be more comfortable than sitting in the parking area at the gate.
What about RV travel to Ocean Lakes?
The same routes work for RVs, but the final approach on US-17 / Kings Highway can be slow in summer f
or larger rigs. Ocean Lakes’ campsite check-in is separate from rental check-in. For RV-specific instructions, the Ocean Lakes campsite page (https://www.oceanlakes.com/lodging-2/campsites-2/) has the current arrival procedures.
When should I leave to avoid the worst traffic?
A few patterns we’ve seen consistently across drive markets:
– Best departure windows: Early morning (before 7 AM) or evening (after 7 PM). Early arrivals on Friday or Saturday have the smoothest experience.
– Worst times to be on US-501: Friday 3 PM through 8 PM, Saturday 11 AM through 4 PM during peak summer (May 15 through Labor Day Weekend per Ocean Lakes).
– Departure days that work better: Sunday or Monday arrivals avoid the worst Saturday turnover congestion.
Practical tips for the drive itself
– Fill up the gas tank when you’re 30 to 60 minutes from Myrtle Beach. Gas prices inside the immediate Myrtle Beach area often run a few cents higher than rural stations.
– If you’re bringing groceries from home, ice them well or stop at a Food Lion or Lowes Foods within 15 minutes of the campground before check-in.
– Pack a small bag for the cooler with snacks, water, and sunscreen so you can hit the beach within an hour of arriving without waiting for the full unload.
– The Myrtle Beach Premium Outlets are 10 minutes from Ocean Lakes if you have time to kill before check-in.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Ocean Lakes from downtown Myrtle Beach?
About four miles south, along US-17 / Kings Highway.
What’s the closest airport to Ocean Lakes?
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR), about 10 to 15 minutes from the front gate.
Can I do Ocean Lakes as a weekend trip from Charlotte or Raleigh?
Yes. The 3 to 3.5 hour drive works for a long weekend, especially if you arrive Friday morning and leave Sunday evening. Columbia families do it as a weekend regularly.
Are there toll roads on the drive to Myrtle Beach from these cities?
Generally no. The main routes from Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Columbia, and Atlanta avoid toll roads. SC-31 (the Carolina Bays Parkway) near Myrtle Beach is toll-free.
Is Ocean Lakes hard to find on GPS?
No. Use the address 6001 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29575 in any nav app and you’ll be routed directly to the main gate.
Where do I check in when I arrive?
For Dune Life Rentals guests, you’ll receive a door code and detailed arrival instructions from me before your stay. For campground questions, the main office is just past the front gate. Express Check-In is available through Ocean Lakes’ express check-in process.
What if I’m running late for check-in?
Text or call me at 336-382-1415. As long as I know, we’ll get you set up regardless of arrival time.
Sources
– Charlotte to Myrtle Beach (182 mi, ~3h38m): Travelmath
– Raleigh to Myrtle Beach (~182 mi, ~3h): Trippy.com
– Greensboro to Myrtle Beach (196 mi, ~3h28m): Trippy.com
– Columbia to Myrtle Beach (~152 mi, ~2h39m): Travelmath
– Atlanta to Myrtle Beach (353 mi, ~5h34m): Meetways
– Ocean Lakes address and location: Ocean Lakes Family Campground homepage
– Peak season dates: Ocean Lakes Discounts page
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Last updated: July 13, 2026
About the author: Shawn Huffines runs Dune Life Rentals at Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, SC. He has watched thousands of families arrive over the years and has notes on which routes work and which ones don’t. Reach Shawn at 336-382-1415 or shawn@duneliferentals.com.