Least mountainous route to Myrtle Beach

The northern water-front route via Buffalo, Albany and eastern seaboard is only 1300 miles, 20 hrs. Shorter than the southern route :) You could paddle your canoe this way!

My suggestion would be I-75 to Knoxville then I-40 to I-26 at Asheville, 26 to Columbia South Carolina then I-20 to Florence and pick up 76 to 501 on into Myrtle. The worst part for mountains would be the Pigeon River Gorge from Newport TN to about exit 20 for Waynesville NC, about 30 miles worth Its really not that bad, just fall in behind the semi trucks and go with the flow. The next part will be on 26. A long down hill decent to the Green River and then the uphill pull on the other side. That would be all the mountains you would have to deal with.

Why not cross the mtns on I40 (Knoxville to Asheville)? 4 lane and traffic moves Great so long as you don't hit Asheville rush hour.

Thank you everyone . Suggestions well taken.

MOST if not ALL of us East Coast people AVOID 95 up here like the plague... From Detroit to Myrtle Beach, I WOULD NOT come to the Phila area, that is exactly what you described as the proposed route. .......

I would rather pull the mountains then deal with Phila, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington DC, Richmond.. ALL of which would be on your route..

I usually use 301 and avoid as much city traffic as possible

Try this web site: TheFlattestRoute.com

Agree with Rover_Bill on the PA Turnpike. Twenty years of going to Myrtle Beach found that I77 was the best and now after twenty more years of heading to Florida still like it the best. Hills are not bad as most long ones have 'truck' lanes.

IMHO, the PA turnpike (I-76) is just as bad as the WV turnpike (I-77) and a much longer drive through mountains. If you want to avoid mountains by driving an extra half-day, head south to Birmingham, AL and then east to Myrtle Beach.