Drive or Fly: Hilton Head, SC to Bamberg, 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–CAE. At 92 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 12m

Distance

92.6 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

37 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 26m

9m in the air

Air Distance

76 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head, SC → HHH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CAE → Bamberg, SC 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Bamberg, SC CAE — Columbia Metropolitan Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HHH and CAE. 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

2h 48m

1h 21m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head, SC → Savannah 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 81m

Arrival 10m

Denmark Amtrak Station → Bamberg, SC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From Savannah 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Denmark Amtrak Station 7 mi, ~10m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 27m

2h 5m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2433

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head, SC → Savannah Bus Station (SAV6) 34m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Orangeburg (Xpress Travel Center) (ORS6) → Bamberg, SC 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From SAV6 — Savannah Bus Station 22 mi, ~34m drive

To ORS6 — Orangeburg (Xpress Travel Center) 15 mi, ~23m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 12m	3h 26m	2h 48m	3h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$123	$17	$11
Carbon footprint	37 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	6 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, FlixBus 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

92.6 mi 2h 11m

via SC 462, US 21, I 95; US 17

Alternative (+7 min)

98.3 mi 2h 19m

via SC 462, US 278; SC 462, US 278

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