Best Route to Huntington Beach State Park

[Chillbilly]

I have 3 different trip routes from Ashville, NC to Huntington Beach State Park, SC using 3 different applications. Which route would you prefer? What are the pro and con of each route? I will be towing a 5th wheel trailer. Any advice will be appreciated.
(1) Delorme Street Atlas - 433 miles
I-26 from Ashville, NC
Hwy 301 near Orangeburg
I-95 in Santee
Hwy 301 near Manning
Hwy 521 in Manning
Hwy 17A in Georgetown
Hwy 17 to Huntington Beach State Park
(2) Microsoft Streets & Trips - 420 miles
I-26 from Ashville, NC
I-20 in Columbia
Hwy 76 in Florence
Hwy 501 in Conway
Hwy 544 i Surfside Beach
Hwy 17 to Huntington Beach State Park
(3) Trailer Life Campground Navigator - 401 miles
I-26 from Ashville, NC
Hwy 76 in Columbia
Hwy 521 near Sumter
Hwy 17A near Georgetown
Hwy 17 to Huntington Beach State Park

[textman]

I would use the 2nd set of directions

[OKI Marine]

Do they have 50 amp service there or is it mostly 30 amp

[53jimc]

If you're going in on Saturday be aware that option 2 will take you though the incoming beach traffic. It begins to stop around Aynor all the way through Conway to 544.

544 gets really congested, as well.

Also, when you get to 544 don't go all the way to 17 business, instead turn right on 17 bypass. It's the next exit after Walmart. If you go to business 17 it will be a very slow and difficult ride.

We went down week before last and thought we'd miss a lot of the traffic since we didn't leave until 2pm, but, we made really good time until we got to Aynor then the traffic was backed up about 5 miles through the city. Same for Conway.

We were staying in a condo south of Garden City, directly across from the restaurants at Murrell's inlet, just about next door to HBSP.

Good luck.

[53jimc]

Originally Posted by OKI Marine

Do they have 50 amp service there or is it mostly 30 amp

Looks like they only have 30 amp in the full service sites.

Find Campsites - HUNTINGTON BEACH, SC - ReserveAmerica

[Oaklevel]

When would you be going ??? Summer?? Weekday??? Sat / Sunday all can be very different. #2 on weekends in the Summer is usually bumper to bumper from Aynor on 501 to the Beach. 544 turn off of 501 is easy ( not too far after a power plant) but it is the Main route to reach 3 of the Major campgrounds. The 17 bypass is just before the Walmart (so if you see it on 544 you have gone too far.) Watch for signs. There is another way off 544 but I do not remember the road names so not a good idea for me to suggest it. Fall, Spring, Winter much less traffic except at Holidays.


Can't comment on the 521 routes but maybe someone can help there. Less traffic????

[53jimc]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

When would you be going ??? Summer?? Weekday??? Sat / Sunday all can be very different. #2 on weekends in the Summer is usually bumper to bumper from Aynor on 501 to the Beach. 544 turn off of 501 is easy ( not too far after a power plant) but it is the Main route to reach 3 of the Major campgrounds. The 17 bypass is just before the Walmart (so if you see it on 544 you have gone too far.) Watch for signs. There is another way off 544 but I do not remember the road names so not a good idea for me to suggest it. Fall, Spring, Winter much less traffic except at Holidays.


Can't comment on the 521 routes but maybe someone can help there. Less traffic????

yep, I was mistaken, 17 bypass is just BEFORE you get to Walmart.
you can look it up on google maps, type in walmart on hwy 544, conway SC

If you go 17 bypass it goes straight to HBSP. There is Terapin Rd and Atalaya Rd. Looks like the campground is on Terapin Rd.

[n4uaj]

I'd go with the second one also but use the bypass. You have to look carefully to get the entrance. There will be a sign saying something about wildlife with a pair of binoculars pointing left. That's your turn if you see Brookgreen Gardens you've gone too far. Also be aware there are few full hookups and I believe most of them are marked handicap. Bathhouses are pretty centrally located in the loops.


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[Chillbilly]

I will be traveling on a weekday. My biggest concern is with up and down inclines. I would like to avoid as much mountainous travel as possible. This is the first time pulling this 5er over the mountain from Knoxville. I know the trip through Asheville will be white-knuckle. Anyone know which would be the best alternative?

[n4uaj]

Out of Asheville, you pretty much have two options. I 26 or I 40. Both are 6% grades if memory serves me. 40 would probably take you too far out of the way. I'm thinking 26 is a longer grade but it's not as curvey as 40 is going down Black Mtn. Shucks just drop down a gear stay to the right with your flashers on and you'll be fine. It's up to them what's behind you to go around if they in a hurry.


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[Oaklevel]

Wow I guess I didn't pay that much attention but last month I pulled a 22' box trailer full one end to the other of my son's furniture & belongings from Johnson City TN I26 to Florence SC basically on that route & don't remember any grades or curves that were bad at all. Definitely no white knuckle areas.

[Chillbilly]

I took option 2. I was concerned with pulling the mountain up into NC and then with the 6% down grade out of Asheville. This was the time pulling the 5th wheel over the mountain with our 1500. It handled even better that I could have hoped for. We are right on the verge of being overloaded. We averaged about 12 mpg staying at 60 mph. I couldn't ask for a better setup for traveling.

[53jimc]

Originally Posted by Chillbilly

I took option 2. I was concerned with pulling the mountain up into NC and then with the 6% down grade out of Asheville. This was the time pulling the 5th wheel over the mountain with our 1500. It handled even better that I could have hoped for. We are right on the verge of being overloaded. We averaged about 12 mpg staying at 60 mph. I couldn't ask for a better setup for traveling.

Are you back from the beach yet? I'm curious to know how the park is. We're thinking about going down there next year.

[n4uaj]

We camp there for a week every May before the biggest rush. It's a well kept campground with nice bathhouses and at least two paths out to the ocean. Great places on the causeway going in for bird and gator watching. Far enough away from the Myrtle Beach crowds yet close enough to go up there if you want. Brookgreen Gardens is right across hwy 17. I believe the tickets are good for at least three days. Most sites are water/electric only. I was able to make it all week without moving to the dump station with 3 of us in the camper. Plenty of places to walk and ride your bikes. Only drawbacks for us was no cable TV but antenna picked up 3 or 4 stations and the wifi is only good right around the camp store.


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[Chillbilly]

53jimc - This is our 3rd time here, 1st time with this 5th wheel. We really like it here - so much less congested than Myrtle Beach but with all the eminities. The beach is terrific and huge. The campground is typical beach state park. We actually get 16 TV channels, although there is still nothing fit to watch. You will not be unhappy!