Origin
Beaufort, SC
Late night in Beaufort on Wednesday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
44m
Distance
34.8 mi
56 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beaufort, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 34.8 miles and takes about 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Okatie Highway, Fording Island Road, Robert Smalls Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.3 miles on Okatie Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
17.4 miles from Beaufort, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 44m drive with frequent turns across 34.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Okatie Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 21 Business / Carteret Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head, SC is easy. At 44m with 25% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 21 Business / Carteret Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 21 Business / Carteret Street
Turn right onto US 21 Business / Carteret Street
Navigation decision point
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Turn left onto SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Navigation decision point
3
21.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
22.1 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 278 / Fording Island Road
Merge onto US 278 / Fording Island Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Boundary Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Carteret Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Port Republic Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Okatie Highway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beaufort, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on Port Republic Street
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
Port Republic Street
2
Turn right onto US 21 Business
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Carteret Street
3
Continue on US 21 Business
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Boundary Street
4
Turn left onto SC 170
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
5
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
6
Continue on SC 170
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Okatie Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
8
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
9
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
10
Arrive at destination
US 278
Trip Plan
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 17.4 miles from Beaufort, SC, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 miles.
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 34.8 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.4 miles or 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head, 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 34.8 miles and 44m.
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.
The longest stretch is on Okatie Highway for about 12.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.4 mi from Beaufort, SC · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 34.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.4 miles from Beaufort, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hilton Head, SC
The final approach into Hilton Head, 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, 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
$5.44 one way
$10.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.95 | $11.90 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.44 | $12.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.68 | $15.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.65 | $1.67 |
| Efficient EV | 8.7 | 0 | $3.04 | $1.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.23 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Hilton Head, SC
Late night in Hilton Head on Wednesday
Local time
12:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
44m 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, SC covers 34.8 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Okatie Highway, Fording Island Road, Robert Smalls Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.4 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 $5.44 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, SC is easy. At 44m with 25% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 21 Business / Carteret Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hilton Head, SC
More from Beaufort, SC
More trips to Hilton Head, SC
Explore more options from Beaufort, SC or browse trips ending in Hilton Head, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Beaufort, SC or Hilton Head, SC on MapSof.net.