We are headed to Holden Beach from Atlanta on Saturday and have hit some very bad traffic on 501 near Rains the last two years. It seems one stupid traffic light holds up traffic for miles. Is there a better way to get to Holden from I-95 near Florence other than the MapQuest way of 501 to 22 to 31 to 17 to 130? We have tried coming down 9 other years but the majority is 2 lane (at least it used to be) and very slow if you get behind a motorhome or any other slow driver. The traffice jam on 501 the last 2 years was incredible and we would love to avoid it this year. Any good backroad suggestions????

John, you have enough experience to know there is NO good way to get to Holden in the summer. However, here are three options you could try, with potential weaknesses pointed out.

1. instead of taking I-20 from Columbia to Florence, take 378 which you'll pick up in Columbia (it runs basically parallel to and south of I-20). Take 378 to Conway, where it runs BRIEFLY with 501 south, to get to 544. 544 will connect you with the southern end of 31. And you know the way from there. The only real caveat I can think of is that they are continuously working on 378, so it's a little bit of a crap shoot. It's definitely not the zoom zoom freeway that I-20 is. BUT, you don't have to deal with 501 at all.

2. Before you get to Rains on 501, take 76 instead of 501, you'll bear left at the Beneteau boat factory instead of staying right for 501. 76 will take you through the towns of Marion and Mullins, with all the traffic lights you'd expect in little towns. However, there shouldn't be the major traffic jams as on 501. 76 will get you to 9. And at that point 9 is a great 4 lane divided highway, taking you all the way to 17.

3. This is a bit of a strectch perhaps, but it would serve the traffic jam avoidance goal. Take I-95 further north, all the way to I-74. Take I-74 east either to: (1) 130 at Whiteville, and from there you know the way or (2) take 74 to 211 near Bolton, and take that all the way to 17 (at Supply), where you can head south on 17 for a short bit to pick up 130 to get to Holden. 74 is a divided 4 lane highway, but it may be a little trafficky, as people from Western NC use it to get to Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach.

Good luck!

If you take 378, WATCH YOUR SPEED in Turbeville.

378 goes through something like 5 different counties so it is rarely patrolled.

22 to 31 to 17 to 130 would probably be the least stressful way to go.

We just came back from driving that road this week--as we do 4 times a year at least. Traffic may move slowly but isn't awful. It IS awful on 501 just past Conway.
Our kids took 9 to get to Ocean Isle a couple of years ago and it was fine. I'd probably do as Chuck suggested.
Or if you continue on 501 to 22, that will get you to 31, I think (we go south to Litchfield and these new roads are great, but not well known to me).
I can't believe 74 will benefit you at all. That would be one long way.
And the traffic around Florence is to be avoided like the plague also.
OP, are you taking I95 all the way to the Route 327 exit? That connects you to 501 without going through Florence.
Beach traffic on week-ends is just horrendous with the changeovers.
It was beautiful last week!!

"I can't believe 74 will benefit you at all. That would be one long way." Gretchen, it's my least favorite alternative perhaps, but still better than sitting on 501 for an hour or two just to get past Aynor!

Addendum for John:

In alternative #2 above, I just remembered a great cut-through road that will get you from 76 to 9 quicker. In Mullins, take a right into 917. It's at one of the stop-lights but still easy to miss (and if you do, just keep on 76 to 9). Anyway, 917 is a great little 2 lane country road, 55MPH. If you're not afraid to pass slower cars (and there won't be that many), it's a great litle shortcut. 917 will run you into Hwy 9.

Chuck, I gave the 74 route a thought and was going to suggest if he was going to do that to come up 85 to Charlotte--which then got me to about an 8+ hour trip to the beach. If that is how long it takes from Atlanta to Holden, then that would be a way to come--4 hours to Charlotte and 4 to Holden. Route 74 is a really nice road now.
Someone tell me--and the OP--I think 9 is mostly 4 lane now.

Wow. I appreciate all the great responses. I think I am leaning toward beach_dwellers option 2. We used to go that way years ago but 9 was 2 lane most of the way then. If it is now 4 lane I think it will be worth a try to miss that Saturday afternoon traffic jam on 501. We like a Saturday to Saturday rental and are pretty much stuck making the drive along with thousands - no HUNDREDS of thousands of people on Saturday. HA! I saw the 917 shortcut and wondered if it might be doable. I really hate it that 501 sucks so bad because once you get past that traffic light, it is great on 22 and 31. Thanks again for all the good info. When we get back, I'll post a quick report of what we ended up doing and how it went.

Have a shrimp burger at Provision's for me!

We're not going until Sunday but if you choose BD's #3, do by all means go 74 to 211 via Supply. However, cross 17 & take the first right (on Sotne Chimney Rd. maybe). You'll see a Holden Beach sign there + it is quicker than going through Shallotte or getting on 17. Although you are actually going by a bit a cutting back, it is quicker than any other way from 74. This will also take you out near Varnumtown, probably the cheapest place to buy shrimp in bulk in the area.

That was supposed to be Stone Chimney. This is also how we cut over to go to Southport (from Holden).

M-C-G - When are you headed back our way ??

I wish! My parents will be there in a few weeks but I am having surgery on Tuesday, so we had to pass. I could really use a sand fix!

Bummer but there is always next year. Hope you are having an awesome summer!

That stinks, I am headed over w/the kids in the morning. My wife has to stay here & teach summer school, her loss !! Hope all goes well, & it is not too serious. Take care.

SAnParis,

thanks for the tip about Stone Chimney Road. When were returning from a day in Southport last weekend, I considered trying that. But I didn't have a detailed enough map.

By the way, and hopefully not too much off topic, Fishy Fishy in Southport was a great place to enjoy lunch (the view and location might be a tad better than the food, but still a decent lunch). Also, there's a great art gallery called Artshak on the main road.

Hey beachdweller, we loved that place too. Awesome shrimp and grits!

Had a great time & the weather was great. Of course traveling Sun.-Thurs. our travel time was just a bit over 3:30 from Matthews. Hope you enjoyed Holden, John. Nice to have 'non-bathwater', water temps in July also.

SanParis, do you know a rental company at Holden? We are going to be out of our Litchfield place for a year while they reapply the stucco (!!do it right the first time!) and want a place for next summer.

Brunswickland Realty (www.brunswicklandrealty.com)is my first choice, followed by Coastal Vacation Resorts. Just go to www.ncbrunswick.com & click on the island of your choice & there will be links. Alan Holden or Hobbs after that...but they tend to be more pricey. If you find a cottage you like, let me know & I may be able to provide some input. I've stayed in many of them.

Beach_dweller was right, there is no good way to get to Holden in the summer. We decided to take option 2, 76 to 9 (it was a little slow through Marion and Mullins but not bad). We ran in to a horrible traffic jam on 9 just before 17. There are 2 traffic lights just before 17 that are not timed properly at all for the huge Saturday beach going crowd - way too much time allowed for the non-existent cross-traffic. It was about a 20-30 minute delay just to get through the two lights. However, once we were on 17 it was OK again. We went back the same way we came and hit no traffic at all. Enough on traffic and time to talk about how great the week was. SAnParis - it was the perfect temperature wasn't it? We have been going to Holden since 1996 (only missed a couple of years and have the Turtle T-shirts to prove it -HA) and this was the best weather we have ever had. We were inside the gate at the west end and loved every minute of it. We had 14 people so did not go out to eat (we always take turns cooking at home) so sorry motor_city_girl but I did not get a shrimp burger at Provisions. As usual, we had such a great time we are looking at houses for next year already. Thanks for all the advice and I will try to find yet another way to get there next year to try miss the dreaded traffic jams.

Glad to hear you had a good trip. Yes, the weather was perfect, I hate it when the ocean is like bathwater. You didn't happen to stay @ "Miles Away" did you ? That is one of our favorite cottages when we have a large group. This will be 40+ years for me (I think I've missed two along the way). Of course, that was my 3rd time this year. It's a bit easier from CLT, rather than Ohio.