Drive or Fly: Union, SC to Hilton Head Island, 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 CLT–HHH. At 233 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 55m

Distance

233.1 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 30m

21m in the air

Air Distance

174 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, SC → CLT 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HHH → Hilton Head Island, SC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Union, SC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 39 mi, ~59m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CLT and HHH. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 16m

3h 36m on rail

Total Cost

$31

CO2

14 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, SC → Camden Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 216m

Arrival 10m

Savannah → Hilton Head Island, SC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From Camden Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Savannah 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 55m	3h 30m	5h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$182	$31
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	14 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 13, 2026.

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