Myrtle Beach’s Highest-Crash Roads and Intersections: What the State Data Shows

The Grand Strand draws about 18 million visitors a year — 18.2 million in 2024, according to the Myrtle Beach Area CVB, though the Chamber reported a 3% drop in 2025 — and that tourist traffic adds to the strain on the region’s roads. Horry County, which encompasses Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Conway, and Surfside Beach, consistently ranks among the top counties in the state for total traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities: 4th of 46 counties for total collisions and 3rd for fatal collisions in 2024, according to the SCDPS Traffic Collision Fact Book. Certain roads and intersections along the Grand Strand produce a disproportionate share of those crashes — and the injuries suffered by victims can be life-altering. If you or a loved one has been hurt on one of Myrtle Beach’s highest-crash roads, understanding your legal rights under the law of negligence is the critical first step toward obtaining fair compensation.

Why Myrtle Beach Roads Are So Dangerous

Several factors combine to make the Myrtle Beach area uniquely hazardous for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

Tourist traffic volume: Millions of visitors unfamiliar with local roads are navigating GPS directions, searching for beachfront hotels, and making sudden turns into unfamiliar parking lots — all while sharing the road with local commuters and heavy commercial traffic.

Road design challenges: Many of the Myrtle Beach area’s busiest roads — particularly U.S. 17 (Kings Highway) and U.S. 501 — carry very heavy volumes, about 82,200 vehicles a day on U.S. 17 between S.C. 707 and U.S. 501, according to SCDOT’s 2025 traffic counts. These corridors are lined with hundreds of commercial access points, restaurants, attractions, and shopping centers, creating a constant stream of vehicles entering, exiting, and crossing multiple lanes of traffic.

Pedestrian and cyclist vulnerability: The beach tourism economy puts thousands of pedestrians on roadways that lack adequate sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting. Visitors walking between hotels, restaurants, and the beach often cross busy multilane highways in areas with no pedestrian infrastructure. Pedestrian fatalities along the Grand Strand are a persistent and tragic problem.

Impaired driving: The Myrtle Beach area’s nightlife and entertainment scene contributes to impaired driving. Horry County logged 480 DUI-related injury and property-damage crashes in 2024, and an alcohol-impaired driver was involved in an estimated 25 of the county’s traffic deaths that year, according to SCDPS.

The Highest-Crash Intersections in the Myrtle Beach Area

Here, “dangerous” means crash counts: South Carolina’s annual Traffic Collision Fact Book (SCDPS) lists the five highest-crash intersections in each county. Horry County’s highest-crash intersection in 2022, 2023 and 2024 was S.C. 9 at Highway 57 near Little River, with 116 collisions in 2024. The intersections below include locations from those tables and other busy junctions that do not appear in them. The numbering is not a ranking.

1. U.S. 501 and Carolina Forest Boulevard

This intersection was among Horry County’s five highest-crash intersections every year from 2020 to 2023 and the county’s highest in 2021, with 84 collisions; it fell out of the top five in 2024. The explosive residential growth of the Carolina Forest community has pushed commuter traffic here to heavy levels, and the county’s RIDE III program includes U.S. 501 corridor improvements and Carolina Forest Boulevard widening. Congestion and turning conflicts make rear-end and angle crashes common here. If you have been injured at this intersection, a Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer can investigate the circumstances and fight for the compensation you deserve.

2. U.S. 501 and S.C. Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway)

U.S. 501 meets S.C. 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) at a grade-separated interchange, with about 65,900 vehicles a day on U.S. 501 between S.C. 31 and the U.S. 17 Bypass (SCDOT, 2025). Traffic exiting S.C. 31 at highway speed meets congested surface traffic on U.S. 501, a common setting for rear-end crashes. Commercial truck traffic heading to and from the Myrtle Beach area’s hotels and attractions adds another layer of risk to this interchange.

3. Highway 17 Bypass and Farrow Parkway (“The Back Gate”)

Known locally as “The Back Gate,” this junction near Market Common was rebuilt as an interchange in October 2014 after years of crashes. It still handles heavy traffic from the Market Common mixed-use development, the Myrtle Beach International Airport area, and the Highway 17 Bypass.

4. Oak Forest Lane and Pine Island Road

This signalized intersection near Coastal Grand Mall does not appear in Horry County’s top-five crash tables for 2020 through 2024.

5. Highway 17 Bypass and Wood Thrush Drive (Murrells Inlet)

This U.S. 17 Bypass intersection south of Myrtle Beach was the scene of a fatal crash in May 2024, according to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). The intersection’s position along the high-speed Highway 17 Bypass, combined with limited sight distances and vehicles entering from residential side streets, creates extremely dangerous conditions.

6. S.C. Highway 9 and S.C. Highway 57 (Near Little River)

This intersection near Little River had more collisions than any other in Horry County in 2022, 2023 and 2024 — 116 in 2024 alone, with 33 people injured, according to SCDPS. It carries heavy Little River and North Myrtle Beach traffic; most of its crashes are property-damage-only, and none was fatal in 2024. Victims of crashes here may suffer traumatic brain injuries or spinal cord injuries that require extensive rehabilitation.

7. Highway 17 Bypass and SC-707 (Murrells Inlet)

This junction in Murrells Inlet was Georgetown County’s highest-crash intersection every year from 2020 to 2024, with 48 collisions in 2024 (SCDPS). Heavy traffic here leaves motorcycle riders particularly vulnerable. Drivers frequently fail to notice or properly judge a motorcycle’s speed and distance when entering or crossing the Highway 17 Bypass, causing devastating broadside collisions. The mix of local traffic and unfamiliar tourists makes this intersection especially unpredictable.

The Grand Strand’s Highest-Crash Highways

U.S. 17 (Kings Highway)

U.S. 17 carries more fatal crashes than any other route in Horry County — 67 between 2020 and 2024 (71 deaths), against 36 on U.S. 501, according to federal crash records (NHTSA FARS, counting every way officers recorded each route). Running through the heart of Myrtle Beach and spanning the entire length of the Grand Strand, Kings Highway is a hotspot for crashes due to its staggering traffic volume, hundreds of commercial intersections, and the constant flow of pedestrians crossing to reach the beach. The Business 17 section through the tourist-heavy core of Myrtle Beach sees frequent failure-to-yield crashes, rear-end collisions, and pedestrian strikes; failure to yield was the second most-cited crash factor in Horry County in 2024 (SCDPS).

U.S. 501

U.S. 501 serves as the primary inland access route to Myrtle Beach, and its intersections — particularly at S.C. 544, Gardner Lacy Road and Carolina Forest Boulevard — are among Horry County’s highest-crash locations (SCDPS). The highway carries an enormous volume of tourist traffic on weekends and during season transitions, and the long, straight stretches between intersections encourage excessive speed that makes intersection crashes more violent when they occur.

Highway 17 Bypass

The Highway 17 Bypass through Murrells Inlet and the southern Grand Strand combines high-speed travel with numerous intersection crossings, a combination that produces serious crashes. The bypass’s function as a high-speed alternative to the congested Business 17 corridor means drivers are traveling at elevated speeds when they encounter intersections, reducing reaction time and increasing crash severity. Fatal crashes along the bypass are not uncommon.

Seasonal Risk: What the Fatal-Crash Record Shows

Summer is the intuitive answer, and the federal fatal-crash record does not support it. Between 2020 and 2024, 22.6% of Horry County’s fatal crashes happened in June, July and August — below the 25% an even spread across the year would produce, and below South Carolina’s own summer share of 26.1%. The worst months were October, May and December. Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020–2024 — see our Grand Strand Fatal Crash Report for the full analysis, the stated limits, and the crash-level dataset.

That does not make summer traffic harmless. Peak season brings far more vehicles, unfamiliar drivers, pedestrians and motorcycles, and likely more crashes overall. What it does not produce is a disproportionate share of the fatal ones — those are spread across the calendar. Any claim of a summer fatality peak needs a source measuring something other than deaths.

Risk is spread across the year in other ways too. The spring and fall “shoulder seasons” bring significant golf tourism traffic, and major events like Bike Week draw tens of thousands of additional visitors to roads already operating at or above capacity.

Common Causes of Myrtle Beach Road Accidents

• Distracted driving: Tourists searching for destinations on GPS, photographing the beach, or managing children in the car are frequently distracted at critical moments near intersections.
• Failure to yield: Unfamiliarity with local roads and intersection layouts causes tourists to misjudge right-of-way, particularly when making left turns across multilane highways.
• Red light running: Chronic congestion along U.S. 17 and U.S. 501 breeds frustration, and drivers pushing through yellow and red lights is a common cause of T-bone crashes.
• Speeding: Speed limits along the Highway 17 Bypass and U.S. 501 encourage higher travel speeds that reduce reaction time at intersections.
• Impaired driving: The Grand Strand’s entertainment economy contributes to DUI crashes, particularly on evenings and weekends.
• Pedestrian and bicycle conflicts: Inadequate pedestrian infrastructure forces walkers and cyclists into dangerous crossings on highways designed for high-speed vehicle traffic.

South Carolina Laws That Protect Accident Victims

Statute of limitations: Under S.C. Code § 15-3-530, accident victims in South Carolina have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit.

Comparative fault: South Carolina allows you to recover compensation if you are less than 51% at fault for the accident. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of responsibility.

Uninsured motorist coverage: South Carolina requires drivers to carry uninsured motorist coverage under S.C. Code § 38-77-150. This protection is especially critical in the Myrtle Beach area, where an at-fault visitor may carry low limits. Underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you when the other driver’s limits are too low, is optional in South Carolina (S.C. Code § 38-77-160), so check whether your policy has it.

Out-of-state visitors: If you are visiting from another state and are injured in a Myrtle Beach car accident, you generally file your claim in South Carolina where the accident occurred. However, your own auto policy’s uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional protection depending on your policy. An attorney familiar with cross-state insurance claims can evaluate all available coverage.

What to Do After a Car Accident in the Myrtle Beach Area

1. Call 911 and request police and medical response. South Carolina law requires reporting accidents that cause injury, death, or significant property damage.
2. Seek immediate medical attention. Many serious injuries — including traumatic brain injuries and internal injuries — may not produce immediate symptoms. Medical documentation from the day of the crash directly links your injuries to the accident.
3. Document everything. Photograph vehicle damage, the intersection or road, traffic signals, weather conditions, and any visible injuries. If you are a tourist, note the exact location, nearest cross streets, and any nearby business names.
4. Exchange information with all involved drivers and get contact information from witnesses.
5. Do not give recorded statements to any insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters will attempt to minimize your claim, especially if you are an out-of-state visitor unfamiliar with South Carolina law.
6. Contact a Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Roden Law represents accident victims throughout the Grand Strand and can handle your case whether you are a local resident or a visitor.

How a Myrtle Beach Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Crashes on the Grand Strand’s highest-crash roads frequently involve complex liability questions — tourist drivers from other states, commercial vehicle operators, government entities responsible for road maintenance, and aggressive insurance companies all complicate the claims process. A Myrtle Beach car accident lawyer at Roden Law can:

• Investigate the crash thoroughly, including obtaining traffic camera footage, police reports, and witness statements before evidence is lost
• Document the full extent of your injuries and financial losses, including travel expenses for medical treatment if you are an out-of-state victim
• Handle all insurance company negotiations to protect you from lowball offers and comparative fault arguments
• Navigate the jurisdictional complexities that arise when out-of-state residents are injured in South Carolina
• Take your case to trial in Horry County Circuit Court if a fair settlement cannot be reached

Roden Law represents accident victims across Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Conway, Surfside Beach, Pawleys Island, and the entire Grand Strand on a contingency fee basis. Fees and costs apply only upon successful recovery. No fees or costs with no recovery. With more than $300 million recovered for our clients and a 4.9-star average client rating, we fight aggressively for the results you deserve.

Injured on one of the Grand Strand’s highest-crash roads? Our Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers know these corridors. Contact Roden Law today for a free consultation. Call (843) 612-1980 or 1-844-RESULTS.

About the Author

Graeham C. Gillin

Partner, COO