Heading down south to the land of pines. I'm thumbing my way into North Caroline. Staring up the road and play to God I see headlights. I made it down the coast in seventeen hours.

This piece of lines from Wagon Wheel by Darius Rucker. My quesion is last line "I made it down the coast in seventeen hours". Is he walking coast seventeen hours? What does made it down mean? If dose anyone know it please let me know!