SC 38
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From: near Sellers (Marion County)
To: North Carolina State Line (Marlboro County)
Total Length: 42.9 miles  
the route continues another 6 miles as NC 38 to end at US 74 Business Hamlet NC.
ROUTE LOG
US 501: 0 - 0
Dillon-Marion Line: 1.1 - 1.1
US 301: 0.8 - 1.9
SC 917: 4.2 - 6.1
I-95 (exit 181): 1.1 - 7.2
Marlboro-Dillon Line: 4.2 - 11.4
SC 34: 0.9 - 12.3
SC 381: 9.3 - 21.6
US 15 NB, US 401 NB, SC 9 EB, SC 9 Bus, SC 38 Bus: 7.1 - 28.7
US 15 SB, US 401 SB: 0.8 - 29.5
SC 385: 0.5 - 30.0
SC 9 WB, SC 9 Bus: 1.5 - 31.5
SC 38 Bus: 0.6 - 32.1
SC 79: 4.3 - 36.4
NC STATE LINE: 6.5 - 42.9
Creation: SC 38 was an original state route running from Myrtle Beach through Socastee, Conway, Marion, Latta, Bennettsville, and McColl before entering NC heading for Laurinburg. This is the only SC 38.
Adjustments: In 1925 or 1926, SC 38 was truncated to SC 9 Bennettsville. The route northeast through McColl became part of SC 30. Today this is SC 385, SC 385 CONN, S-35-494 Fayetteville Ave, US 15-401.
About 1929, SC 38 was extended north as new primary routing from Bennettsville to North Carolina near Gibson.
In 1933, SC 38 south was truncated to US 701 Homewood. The old route became US 701 to Conway and US 117 to Myrtle Beach. Today the US 117 part is now US 501 Bus, S-26-14 Depot Rd, S-26-272 Washington Ave, SC 544, Dick Pond Rd, SC 707, Emory Rd/Powell Lane, abandoned routing through the airport, S-26-15 Old Socastee Hwy.

1922 Auto Trails
SC 38 original routing
1922 Auto Trails
1933 Official
SC 38 truncated to Homewood
1933 Official

In 1935, SC 38 south was truncated to US 301-501 Latta. The old route became US 501. Today it is SC 319, US 501 except US 501 Bus through Marion.
In 1938, SC 38 north was rerouted at Bennettsville to instead follow SC 9 west, then replaced SC 96 to North Carolina towards Hamlet. The old route towards Gibson, NC became SC 79 (now SC 385).
In 1939, SC 38 was rebuilt north of Bennettsville onto mostly new alignment. The old route used: Today's SC 38 Byp; Rogers Ln; S-35-187 Wilder Rd; S-35-261 Wilder Rd; Radio Rd which used to connect diagonally with S-35-63 east of SC 38; Old 38 Hwy; SC 38 through the SC 79 area; S-35-166 Pineville School Rd

1926 Official
SC 38 truncated to Bennettsville
1926 Official
1930 Official
SC 38 extended back to NC
1930 Official
1938 Official
SC 38 shifted west to go to NC
1938 Official
1940 Official
SC 38 straightened out north of SC 9
1940 Official

In 1952, SC 38 south was rerouted to avoid Latta and instead replace SC 380 through Sellers to meet US 501 near Marion. The old route to Latta became part of SC 917.

1935 Official
SC 38 truncated to Latta
1935 Official
1948 Official
SC 380 through Sellers
1948 Official

1952 Official
SC 38 replaces SC 380
1952 Official

Between 1975-78, SC 38 was given a western bypass around Bennettsville, leaving behind SC 38 Business.

1967 Marlboro County
SC 38 through Bennettsville
1967 Marlboro County
1978 Marlboro County
SC 38 bypasses Bennettsville
1978 Marlboro County

In 2001, SC 38 was removed from S-35-381 north of SC 34.
In 2005, SC 38 was rebuilt at its southern end to meet US 501 at a new interchange leaving behind S-34-83 and James Johnson Rd.
Improvements: SC 38 was paved from Conway to Marion in 1928.
By 1932, SC 38 was paved from Myrtle Beach to Latta.
In 1935 SC 38 was paved from Blenheim to Bennettsville.
SC 38 was paved from Latta to Blenheim in 1937.
SC 38 was paved from Bennettsville to the NC Line in 1939.
SC 38 was multilane from on the US 15-401 multiplex when designated between 1975-78.
SC 38 was multilaned between Blenheim and Bennettsville in 1992.
By 1993, SC 38 was multilaned for a mile with an interchange at US 301.
Between 1994-97, SC 38 was multilaned half the distance from Blenheim to Brownsville.
Official Maps don't show it, but SC 38 was multilaned from Bennettsville to Oak Grove by about 2003.
The 2005 Official Map shows SC 38 multilaned from I-95 to SC 917.
In 2006, SC 38 was fully multilane from US 501 to I-95.
In 2007 or 2008, SC 38 was fully multilane from I-95 to Oak Grove; also multilaned on the SC 9 portion of the Bennettsville Bypass
Comment: SC 38 is the most efficient way to get from I-95 to US 501 on your way to Myrtle Beach. Also, SC 38 north of I-95 is a nice alternative to reach US 1 or US 220 in North Carolina.


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Page last modified 12 March 2016