It travels from Little River to the North Carolina state line, near Calabash.

It ran from US 17 east, through Jamestown, to the Charleston County line near Honey Hill.

By 1938, it reached its zenith by extensions to McClellanville and across the Cooper River.

In 1950, SC 179 was completely removed, majority of the route becoming secondary roads, with some sections living on as US 17 Alt.

The current SC 179 was established in 1979; it complements NC 179 when North Carolina established the new route and routed the southern end into South Carolina.