Trip from Hanahan, SC to Hilton Head, SC

Drive Time

2h 12m

Distance

101 mi

163 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 3m ★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m

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

Downtown Hanahan, SC, SC

Hanahan, SC

Junior Bastos

Downtown Hilton Head, SC, SC

Hilton Head, SC

Colon Freld

Trip Overview

The drive from Hanahan, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 101 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Okatie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.1 miles on Savannah Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $16.16 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

50.5 miles from Hanahan, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Hanahan, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 101 miles and takes about 2h 12m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Savannah Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 101 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: at 2.5 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (S-10-57 / Bees Ferry Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

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

5
2.5 mi into trip | ~4m 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 none lane.
7
8.2 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward SC 461 North

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 11B Toward SC 461 North
5
11.4 mi into trip | ~16m in | S-10-57 / Bees Ferry Road

At end of road, turn left onto S-10-57 / Bees Ferry Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
4
14.2 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 17 / Savannah Highway

Turn right onto US 17 / Savannah Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
57.3 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in | Trask Parkway

Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Savannah Highway 20.1 mi 26m
Ace Basin Parkway 17.1 mi 22m
Okatie Highway 12.3 mi 14m
Trask Parkway 12 mi 14m
Fording Island Road 9.3 mi 12m
Mark Clark Expressway 5.6 mi 7m
Charleston Highway 5.6 mi 7m
Robert Smalls Parkway 3.5 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Savannah Highway — 20.1 mi, about 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on S-10-405

0.4 mi · 1 min · Murray Drive
2

Turn slight left onto US 52; US 78

1.8 mi · 2 min · Rivers Avenue
Use the none lane.
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
4

Merge onto I 526

5.6 mi · 7 min · Mark Clark Expressway
Use the none lane.
5

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 58 sec
Exit 11B Toward SC 461 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Turn straight onto SC 461

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Paul Cantrell Boulevard
7

Continue on SC 461

2.1 mi · 3 min · Glen McConnell Parkway
Use the none lane.
8

Continue on SC 461

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Glenn McConnell Parkway
9

At end of road, turn left onto S-10-57

2.8 mi · 4 min · Bees Ferry Road
Use the none lane.
10

Turn right onto US 17

20 mi · 26 min · Savannah Highway
Use the none lane.
11

Continue on US 17

17 mi · 22 min · Ace Basin Parkway
Use the none lane.
12

Continue on US 17

5.6 mi · 7 min · Charleston Highway
Use the left / none lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
14

Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway

207 ft · 2 sec · Trask Parkway
15

Continue on Trask Parkway

12 mi · 14 min · Trask Parkway
16

Turn right onto US 21

1.2 mi · 1 min · Parris Island Gateway
17

Turn slight right onto SC 170

3.5 mi · 3 min · Robert Smalls Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18

Continue on SC 170

1.7 mi · 1 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
19

Continue on SC 170

12 mi · 14 min · Okatie Highway
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
21

Merge onto US 278

9.3 mi · 12 min · Fording Island Road
22

Continue on US 278

3.4 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway
Use the none lane.
23

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 50.5 miles from Hanahan, SC, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 48m

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 Hanahan, 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 Hanahan, SC

This is one driving day of about 101 miles and 2h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hanahan, 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 Savannah Highway for about 20.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 50.5 mi from Hanahan, SC · 1h 9m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charleston, SC

51 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 50.5 miles from Hanahan, 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

$16.16 one way

$32.33 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $17.61 $35.22
premium $4.78 $19.00 $38.00
diesel $5.64 $22.44 $44.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.3 0 $10.60 $4.85
Efficient EV 25.3 0 $8.84 $4.04
EV Truck/SUV 40.4 0 $14.14 $6.46

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (66% 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

Hanahan, SC

Afternoon in Hanahan on Sunday

Local time

4:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton Head, SC

Afternoon in Hilton Head on Sunday

Local time

4:11 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

3 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 12m 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 Hanahan, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 101 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Okatie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.5 miles from Hanahan, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.16 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 11 significant decision points across 101 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: at 2.5 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.4 miles (S-10-57 / Bees Ferry Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Hanahan, SC to Hilton Head, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Hilton Head, SC to Hanahan, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

101.6 mi 2h 14m

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

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