Built on the order of Charles II in the 17th century, King’s Highway ran about 1,300 miles from Boston to Charleston and linked all thirteen colonies.
The South Carolina section crossed the North Carolina line just above Little River on the way to Georgetown. According to the South Carolina Encyclopedia, the highway then grazed the Santee before passing through McClellanville and reaching Charleston. The route to Savannah followed higher ground away from the coast to avoid the Edisto, Combahee, and Broad River basins.
The South Carolina Encyclopedia says the segments were built at different times by the individual colonies during the 17th and 18th centuries.
“Even at its best, the condition of the route was seldom good. Narrow roads, ruts, mud, obstructions, and poorly maintained bridges and ferries were just a few of the inconveniences to be expected. The section between Wilmington and Charleston was judged by some travelers to be “the most tedious and disagreeable of any on the Continent.” THE SOUTH CAROLINA ENCYCLOPEDIA
A historical marker located in Myrtle Beach explains that it took at least two months for wagons averaging about 20-25 miles per day to complete the entire journey up the coast. Today, sections of US Highway 17 follow the original layout. (Credit: WCBD News)
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