Trip from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Drive Time

56m

Distance

39.8 mi

64 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min

4 AM

0h 52m ★

6 AM

0h 57m

8 AM

1h 6m

10 AM

1h 0m

12 PM

0h 59m

3 PM

1h 0m

5 PM

1h 5m

8 PM

0h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition between two iconic South Carolina coastal gems, the 39.8-mile journey from Beaufort to Hilton Head Island is an easy choice. Expect to spend about 56 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate primarily via Carteret Street, Boundary Street, and Robert Smalls Parkway. Since this is a short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, saving you the hassle of planning an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at just $6, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move through the Southeast region. This route is all about local convenience, making it a straightforward transit rather than a long-haul expedition.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

19.9 miles from Beaufort, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

Forget about monotonous interstate cruising; this path is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish. You will find zero highway miles on this route, meaning you are navigating through the heart of the local landscape rather than bypassing it on a high-speed artery. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on Carteret Street, you should prepare for frequent turns and a consistent pace through the local infrastructure. The road maintains a steady, moderate intensity that requires your full attention throughout the hour-long trip. It is a practical, ground-level perspective of the region that relies entirely on local roads to connect your two destinations.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Carteret Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is easy. At 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Carteret Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Boundary Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Robert Smalls Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge	Unavailable	Refreshing
Okatie Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Fording Island Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
William Hilton Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing
Cross Island Parkway	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Carteret Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Beaufort, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.

1

Start on Port Republic Street

39 ft · 4 sec · Port Republic Street

2

Turn right onto Carteret Street

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Carteret Street

3

Continue on Boundary Street

2.1 mi · 3 min · Boundary Street

4

Turn left onto Robert Smalls Parkway

5.2 mi · 6 min · Robert Smalls Parkway

5

Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

1.7 mi · 1 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

6

Continue on Okatie Highway

12 mi · 14 min · Okatie Highway

7

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 37 sec

8

Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

9.3 mi · 12 min · Fording Island Road

9

Continue on William Hilton Parkway

3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

10

Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway

2.4 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway

11

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 59 sec

12

Turn left onto Marshland Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road

13

Turn right onto Allen Road

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Allen Road

14

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Because this is a short, 56-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows without worrying about complex timing or fatigue. You won't need to plan for any stops along the way, as the distance is short enough to cover in one go. Keep in mind that since the route is entirely local, traffic patterns on Boundary Street and Robert Smalls Parkway can fluctuate depending on the time of day. With a fuel budget of only $6, you can easily top off your tank before leaving Beaufort and arrive at Hilton Head Island with plenty to spare. My best advice is to stay alert for the frequent turns required by this specific route, as the lack of highway segments means you will be navigating intersections more often than on a typical cross-country drive.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 19.9 miles from Beaufort, SC, or about 28m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 39.8 miles or 56m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 19.9 miles or 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head Island, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Beaufort, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Beaufort, SC

This is one driving day of about 39.8 miles and 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Beaufort, SC.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.9 mi from Beaufort, SC · 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charleston, SC

20 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Savannah, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charleston, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Beaufort, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hilton Head Island, SC

The final approach into Hilton Head Island, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Hilton Head Island, SC.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.37 one way

$12.74 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$6.94	$13.88
premium	$4.78	$7.49	$14.97
diesel	$5.64	$8.84	$17.68

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.9	$4.18	$1.91
Efficient EV	10	$3.48	$1.59
EV Truck/SUV	15.9	$5.57	$2.55

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Beaufort, SC

Afternoon in Beaufort on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton Head Island, SC

Afternoon in Hilton Head Island on Sunday

Local time

4:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

2 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

56m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 39.8 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Carteret Street, Boundary Street, Robert Smalls Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 19.9 miles from Beaufort, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

The drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is easy. At 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.