Trip from Brookdale, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Drive Time

2h 26m

Distance

119.8 mi

193 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

2h 17m ★

6 AM

2h 27m

8 AM

2h 47m

10 AM

2h 34m

12 PM

2h 32m

3 PM

2h 35m

5 PM

2h 46m

8 PM

2h 21m

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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Brookdale, SC

Colon Freld

Hilton Head Island, SC

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Trip Overview

The drive from Brookdale, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 119.8 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 95, I 26, Coosaw Scenic Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56.6 miles on I 95. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.17 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

59.9 miles from Brookdale, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 26m highway drive covering 119.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and I 26. The longest continuous stretch is about 56.6 miles on I 95.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 56.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Shadow Lawn Drive.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 119.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Shadow Lawn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Old Cameron Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Shadow Lawn Drive

Turn right onto Shadow Lawn Drive

Navigation decision point

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Old Cameron Road

At end of road, turn left onto Old Cameron Road

Navigation decision point

2.1 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I 26 East: Charleston

Navigation decision point

Toward I 26 East: Charleston

21.8 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 169A Toward I 95 South: Savannah

22.7 mi into trip | ~28m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 95	56.6 mi	1h
I 26	19.5 mi	20m
Coosaw Scenic Drive	9.6 mi	13m
Fording Island Road	9.3 mi	12m
Lowcountry Drive	7.9 mi	10m
Okatie Highway	4.2 mi	4m
William Hilton Parkway	3.8 mi	4m
Cross Island Parkway	2.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 95 — 56.6 mi, about 1h

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Dellwood Drive

424 ft · 20 sec · Dellwood Drive

Turn right onto Shadow Lawn Drive

0.2 mi · 1 min · Shadow Lawn Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Old Cameron Road

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Old Cameron Road

Continue on SC 33

1.7 mi · 3 min · Russell Street

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 26 East: Charleston

Merge onto I 26

19 mi · 20 min · I 26

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min

Exit 169A Toward I 95 South: Savannah

Merge onto I 95

57 mi · 1 hr · I 95

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

Turn left onto SC 462

9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

Continue on SC 462

7.9 mi · 10 min · Lowcountry Drive

Turn right onto SC 170

4.2 mi · 4 min · Okatie Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto US 278

9.3 mi · 12 min · Fording Island Road

Continue on US 278

3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 278

2.4 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 59 sec

Turn left onto Marshland Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road

Turn right onto Allen Road

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Allen Road

Arrive at destination

Allen Road

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 59.9 miles from Brookdale, SC, or about 1h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 59.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 54m

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 Brookdale, 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 Brookdale, SC

This is one driving day of about 119.8 miles and 2h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Brookdale, 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 I 95 for about 56.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 59.9 mi from Brookdale, SC · 1h 7m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charleston, SC

60 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

Charleston, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charleston, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 59.9 miles from Brookdale, 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.

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...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 115.6

View on nps.gov

Congaree National Park

National Park

Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...

20 mi from route ~50 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.17 one way

$38.35 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 42 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$20.89	$41.78
premium	$4.78	$22.54	$45.07
diesel	$5.64	$26.62	$53.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 41.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	35.9	$12.58	$5.75
Efficient EV	30	$10.48	$4.79
EV Truck/SUV	47.9	$16.77	$7.67

Gas CO2

42 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Brookdale, SC

Morning in Brookdale on Monday

Local time

9:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton Head Island, SC

Morning in Hilton Head Island on Monday

Local time

9:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Mostly Sunny

S 1 to 12 mph 0% chance 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

16 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 26m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Brookdale, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 119.8 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 95, I 26, Coosaw Scenic Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 59.9 miles from Brookdale, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.17 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 main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Shadow Lawn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Old Cameron Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point.

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

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Return Trip

Hilton Head Island, SC to Brookdale, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

119.8 mi 2h 26m

Explore more options from Brookdale, SC or browse trips ending in Hilton Head Island, SC.

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Trip from Brookdale, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Hilton Head Island, SC

National Parks Near This Route

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Congaree National Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Brookdale, SC

Hilton Head Island, SC

Same local time

16 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 26m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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