Drive or Fly: Hilton Head, SC to Dalzell, 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 153 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 59m

Distance

153.2 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 25m

15m in the air

Air Distance

126 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head, SC → HHH 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CAE → Dalzell, SC 60m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Dalzell, SC CAE — Columbia Metropolitan Airport 40 mi, ~60m 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

5h 6m

3h 20m on rail

Total Cost

$31

CO2

9 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hilton Head, SC → Savannah 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 200m

Arrival 10m

Camden Amtrak Station → Dalzell, SC 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From Savannah 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Camden Amtrak Station 19 mi, ~29m 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	2h 59m	3h 25m	5h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$31
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

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