US 501  < US 401 | Home | US 521 >

From: BUS Myrtle Beach (Horry County) To: North Carolina State Line at South of the Border (Dillon County) Total Length: 74 miles   Nationally, US 501 runs from Myrtle Beach to US 60 Buena Vista, VA
ROUTE LOG US 17 Bus: 0 - 0 US 17: 1.8 - 1.8 SC 31: 3 - 4.8 US 501 Bus, SC 544: 6 - 10.8 US 701 SB, SC 905: 2.9 - 13.7 US 378: 0.1 - 13.8 US 501 Bus, US 701 NB: 1 - 14.8 SC 22: 7.3 - 22.1 SC 319: 7 - 29.1 Marion-Horry Line: 4.4 - 33.5 SC 41: 3 - 36.5 US 501 Bus, SC 41 ALT: 6.8 - 43.3 US 76: 4 - 47.3 SC 41 ALT: 2 - 49.3 US 501 Bus: 3 - 52.3 SC 38: 4.3 - 56.6 Dillon-Marion Line: 0.6 - 57.2 US 301 SB: 2.6 - 59.8 SC 917: 0.4 - 60.2 SC 9 EB, SC 34, SC 57 SB: 6.7 - 66.9 SC 9 WB, SC 57 NB: 1 - 67.9 I-95 (exit 1), NC STATE LINE: 6.1 - 74		Creation: Appeared about 1935 as an extended U.S. Highway, running from NC below Rowland to Myrtle Beach. It was attached to US 301 from NC to Latta, then SC 38 from Latta to Conway (Latta to Aynor ran like US 501 today, but used SC 319 from Aynor to Conway), and replaced some of US 117 from Conway to Socastee to Myrtle Beach. 81 miles was US 501's length then. Adjustments: In 1949, US 501 received its direct routing from Conway to Myrtle Beach, replacing SC 503. The old route from Conway to Socastee became SC 544 and Socastee to Myrtle Beach became SC 707 (also part of S-26-15 today). In 1950, US 501 was put on new construction from Conway to Aynor. The old route to Homewood remained US 701, while Homewood to Aynor became SC 319. Between 1962-64, US 501 received its current bypass of Conway, leaving behind US 501 Business. Between 1962-64, US 701 was routed around Conway like it is today, leaving behind US 501 Business and SC 905. In 1989 or 1990, US 501 received its Marion Bypass. Improvements: Fully paved when assigned in 1935. The first multilane section of US 501 appeared between 1962-64: the Conway Bypass and south to US 17 Myrtle Beach. The next section to be upgraded was Latta to Dillon, between 1968-70. Between 1974 and 1977, US 501 was 4-laned from Marion to Myrtle Beach and through Dillon, including an interchange at SC 41. When the Marion Bypass opened in 1989-90, it was multilaned, with an interchange at US 76 and on both ends. In recent years, US 501 was upgraded to expressway with no lights from US 17 Bypass out to at least SC 31. The area just west of the Intracoastal Waterway was always very congested prior to this upgrade. Comment: US 501 is the main route to get to Myrtle Beach from points west, though with the addition of SC 22, traffic should be more spread out. US 501's old crossing of the Intracoastal Waterway was on a drawbridge that was shared with the railroad, which I believe is still there (albeit closed to auto traffic). Another 501 oddity nearby is the ramps from the US 17 interchange have at grade railroad crossings.

BUSINESS From: Red Hill (Horry County) To: Conway (Horry County) Total Length: 4.4 miles
ROUTE LOG US 501, SC 544: 0 - 0 SC 90: 1.1 - 1.1 US 378: 1.6 - 2.7 SC 905: 0.1 - 2.8 US 701 NB: 1.1 - 3.9 US 501, US 701 SB: 0.5 - 4.4		Creation: Appeared between 1962-64, running as it does now. Adjustments: None Improvements: Fully paved from inception; multilane with its US 701 multiplex. Comment: US 501 Business for Conway uses Main St and 16th St. The Main Street portion of US 501 Business was part of today's SC 38 but the 16th St portion has only been S-26-153, as 501 originally followed US 701 north of Conway. The 16th St section had a carolina cutout as late as 1989.

BUSINESS From:   S. Marion (Marion County) To: Spring Branch (Marion County) Total Length: 6.6 miles
ROUTE LOG US 501, SC 41 ALT SB: 0 - 0 SC 576: 0.3 - 0.3 US 76: 2 - 2.3 SC 41 ALT NB: 0.8 - 3.1 US 501: 3.5 - 6.6		Creation: Appeared 1989 or 1990, running as it does now. Adjustments: None Improvements: Fully paved from inception; multilane only from SC 576 to the south end of the business route. Comment: US 501 Business for Marion uses Main St. US 501 Business was once part of today's SC 38.

Previous: US 401  |  Next: US 521
Top  |  South Carolina Hwy Index Home