Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Duncan, SC

Drive Time

4h 54m

Distance

250.6 mi

403 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$40

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 41m ★

6 AM

4h 55m

8 AM

5h 22m

10 AM

5h 4m

12 PM

5h 2m

3 PM

5h 6m

5 PM

5h 21m

8 PM

4h 47m

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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Hilton Head Island, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Duncan, SC

Just a Couple Photos

Trip Overview

The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Duncan, SC covers 250.6 miles and takes about 4h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 26, I 95, Coosaw Scenic Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 140.1 miles on I 26. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.11 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

125.3 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h 54m highway drive covering 250.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 26 and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 140.1 miles on I 26.

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

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 26 is the longest continuous segment at about 140.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 250.6 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 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

2.4 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

18.2 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

97.4 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in | I 26

Merge onto I 26

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

214 mi into trip | ~4h 6m in | I 26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Spartanburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward Spartanburg

237.5 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in

Take the exit toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 28 Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore

Towns Along This Route

Between Hilton Head Island, SC and Duncan, SC, road signs point toward Spartanburg and Moore.

Spartanburg

214 mi in | ~4h 6m | via I 26

Moore

237.5 mi in | ~4h 31m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 26	140.1 mi	2h 32m
I 95	57.2 mi	1h 1m
Coosaw Scenic Drive	9.4 mi	12m
Fording Island Road	9 mi	13m
Lowcountry Drive	7.9 mi	10m
Moore Duncan Highway	6.2 mi	9m
East Main Street	5.8 mi	11m
Okatie Highway	3.9 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 26 — 140.1 mi, about 2h 32m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Allen Road

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Allen Road

Turn left onto Marshland Road

2.2 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge onto US 278

2.3 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway

Merge onto US 278

3.9 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

Continue on US 278

9.0 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Keep slight right at fork

147 ft · 4 sec

Merge onto SC 170

3.9 mi · 4 min · Okatie Highway

Take the exit

488 ft · 13 sec

Continue on SC 462

7.9 mi · 10 min · Lowcountry Drive

Continue on SC 462

9.4 mi · 12 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence

Merge onto I 95; US 17

57 mi · 1 hr 1 min · I 95; US 17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min

Toward I 26 West: Columbia

Merge onto I 26

117 mi · 2 hr 6 min · I 26

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 26

24 mi · 25 min · I 26

Toward Spartanburg Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Exit 28 Toward US 221: Spartanburg-South, Moore Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight left

95 ft · 2 sec

Turn left onto US 221

0.9 mi · 1 min · Highway 221

Turn right onto SC 290

6.2 mi · 9 min · Moore Duncan Highway

Continue on SC 290

5.8 mi · 11 min · East Main Street

Turn left onto South Spencer Street

126 ft · 3 sec · South Spencer Street

Arrive at destination

South Spencer Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 125.3 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 2h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.1 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 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125.3 miles or 2h 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 57m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island, SC

This is one driving day of about 250.6 miles and 4h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC.

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

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 26 for about 140.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 125.3 mi from Hilton Head Island, SC · 2h 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

125 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

Charlotte, NC

Fuel and coffee

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

Charlotte, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 125.3 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Duncan, SC

The final approach into Duncan, 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 Duncan, SC.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

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...

12 mi from route ~30 min detour Free near mile 129.6

Caution: Backcountry Trail Conditions

Park Closure: Boardwalk Partially Closed for Construction

View on nps.gov

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 8.6

View on nps.gov

Cowpens National Battlefield

National Battlefield

A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...

22 mi from route ~55 min detour Free near mile 242

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.11 one way

$80.21 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$43.70	$87.39
premium	$4.78	$47.14	$94.28
diesel	$5.64	$55.67	$111.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$40

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$65–$90

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	75.2	0	$26.31	$12.03
Efficient EV	62.7	0	$21.93	$10.02
EV Truck/SUV	100.2	1	$35.08	$16.04

Gas CO2

88 kg

EV CO2

29 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 9 hours ago

Origin

Hilton Head Island, SC

Morning in Hilton Head Island on Monday

Local time

7:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Duncan, SC

Morning in Duncan on Monday

Local time

7:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

20 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

4h 54m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Duncan, SC covers 250.6 miles and takes about 4h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 26, I 95, 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 125.3 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.11 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Hilton Head Island, SC and Duncan, SC, road signs point toward Spartanburg and Moore.

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Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Duncan, SC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Duncan, SC

National Parks Near This Route

Congaree National Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Cowpens National Battlefield

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hilton Head Island, SC

Duncan, SC

Same local time

20 degrees cooler at arrival

4h 54m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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