Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
85 mi
137 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Ravenel, SC
Just a Couple Photos
Hilton Head Island, SC to Ravenel, SC is 85 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via US 17, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within South Carolina, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on US 17, making it a convenient option for a quick trip or an extension of your travels in the Lowcountry. It’s a direct route that should be easy to navigate and complete with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.5 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 17 | 34.8 mi | 45m |
| Okatie Highway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Trask Parkway | 11.6 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 9 mi | 13m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | 3.5 mi | 3m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Ravenel, SC.
Start on Allen Road
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 278
Merge onto US 278
Continue on US 278
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto SC 170
Continue on SC 170
Continue on SC 170
Turn slight left onto US 21
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
Take the exit
Merge onto US 17
Turn right onto SC 165
At end of road, turn right onto SC 165
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of just under 2 hours, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. You won't need to plan for multiple stops to break up the 85 miles, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always wise, especially with the estimated $13 fuel cost. The longest continuous stretch is on US 17, so ensure you have snacks or any necessary items before heading out on that section. This is a route where you can easily adjust your departure based on traffic or your schedule.
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.
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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 56m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ravenel, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Hilton Head Island, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hilton Head Island, SC
This is one driving day of about 85 miles and 1h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 42.5 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 84.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto US 21 / Trask Parkway
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto SC 165
Navigation decision point
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$13.29 one way
$26.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $14.53 | $29.07 |
| premium | $4.70 | $15.73 | $31.46 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.77 | $37.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.92 | $4.08 |
| Efficient EV | 21.3 | 0 | $7.44 | $3.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34 | 0 | $11.90 | $5.44 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hilton Head Island on Saturday
Local time
2:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Ravenel on Saturday
Local time
2:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 67% of it on faster roads. You'll experience a 34.8-mile stretch on US 17 without needing to turn off, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. The profile is generally highway-focused, meaning you can expect a more direct and less winding experience for most of the 85 miles. While not entirely interstate, the character is predominantly that of efficient, high-speed travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Okatie Highway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85 miles you will encounter 13 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 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 36.8 miles (US 21 / Trask Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 85 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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