Drive or Fly: Hilton Head Island, SC to Awendaw, SC?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for HHH–CHS. At 130 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 1m

Distance

130.5 mi

Total Cost

$64

CO2

53 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$29

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 1m

11m in the air

Air Distance

88 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head Island, SC → HHH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CHS → Awendaw, SC 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Hilton Head Island, SC HHH — Hilton Head Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Awendaw, SC CHS — Charleston International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HHH and CHS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 13m

1h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

8 kg

Route

Palmetto

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head Island, SC → Savannah 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 93m

Arrival 10m

Charleston Amtrak Station → Awendaw, SC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Savannah 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Charleston Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 1m	3h 1m	3h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$64	$124	$17
Carbon footprint	53 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

130.5 mi 3h 1m

via US 17, SC 170, US 278

Alternative (+21 min)

143.9 mi 3h 22m

via I 95; US 17, US 17 Alt, US 17

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Hilton Head Island, SC to Awendaw, SC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.