The drive from Bluffton, SC to Hanahan, SC covers 95.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 17, Okatie Highway, Trask Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43 miles on US 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.00 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.
Midpoint
47.9 miles from Bluffton, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 95.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 6m highway drive covering 95.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Okatie Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 43 miles on US 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 43 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Okatie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 46 / Bluffton Road.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 95.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 87.4 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Turn right onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Navigation decision point
5
7.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
87.4 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge onto I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
93.3 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 52 West, US 78 West
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18B
Toward US 52 West, US 78 West
5
95.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|S-10-405 / Murray Drive
Turn right onto S-10-405 / Murray Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
43 mi
56m
Okatie Highway
12.2 mi
13m
Trask Parkway
11.6 mi
14m
Mark Clark Expressway
5.9 mi
7m
Fording Island Road
5.6 mi
7m
Robert Smalls Parkway
3.5 mi
3m
Bees Ferry Road
2.8 mi
4m
Glenn McConnell Parkway
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 43 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and Hanahan, SC.
1
Start on Bruin Road
87 ft·5 sec·Bruin Road
2
Turn right onto SC 46
0.9 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
3
Enter roundabout onto SC 46
170 ft·3 sec·Bluffton Road
4
Continue on SC 46
0.8 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
5
Turn left onto US 278
5.6 mi·7 min·Fording Island Road
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft·4 sec
8
Merge onto SC 170
12 mi·13 min·Okatie Highway
9
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi·1 min·Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
10
Continue on SC 170
3.5 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
11
Turn slight left onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Merge onto US 17
43 mi·56 min·US 17
15
Turn left onto S-10-57
2.8 mi·4 min·Bees Ferry Road
16
Turn right onto SC 461
2.5 mi·3 min·Glenn McConnell Parkway
17
Continue on SC 461
0.5 mi·47 sec·Paul Cantrell Boulevard
18
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
19
Merge onto I 526
5.9 mi·7 min·Mark Clark Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 18BToward US 52 West, US 78 West
21
Turn straight onto US 52; US 78
2.0 mi·3 min·Rivers Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto S-10-405
0.4 mi·54 sec·Murray Drive
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
S-10-405
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 47.9 miles from Bluffton, SC, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.9 miles or 1h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hanahan, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bluffton, 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 Bluffton, SC
This is one driving day of about 95.9 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bluffton, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 17 for about 43 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 47.9 mi from Bluffton, SC
· 1h into the drive
The midpoint is around 48.3 miles from Bluffton, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hanahan, SC
The final approach into Hanahan, 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 Hanahan, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 26.4
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$10
near mile 89.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.00 one way
$29.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.40
$32.79
premium
$4.70
$17.75
$35.50
diesel
$5.61
$21.17
$42.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.8
0
$10.07
$4.60
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.39
$3.84
EV Truck/SUV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bluffton, SC
Late night
in Bluffton on Friday
Local time
3:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hanahan, SC
Late night
in Hanahan on Friday
Local time
3:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
19 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
2h 6m 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 Bluffton, SC to Hanahan, SC covers 95.9 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 17, Okatie Highway, Trask Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47.9 miles from Bluffton, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.00 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 95.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 46 / Bluffton Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 87.4 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Bluffton, SC to Hanahan, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
