The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Awendaw, SC covers 130.5 miles and takes about 3h 1m 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 80.3 miles on US 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.41 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.2 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 130.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 1m highway drive covering 130.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 17 and Okatie Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.3 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 21 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 80.3 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 around 2.4 miles in.
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 11 significant decision points across 130.5 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 36.8 miles (US 21 / Trask Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.4 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
18.2 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
36.8 mi into trip|~49m in|US 21 / Trask Parkway
At end of road, turn left onto US 21 / Trask Parkway
Navigation decision point
5
48.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 17
Merge onto US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
103.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Awendaw, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Georgetown along the way.
Georgetown
103.2 mi in|~2h 21m|via US 17
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
80.3 mi
1h 53m
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
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 80.3 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Awendaw, SC.
1
Start on Allen Road
0.2 mi·41 sec·Allen Road
2
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.2 mi·5 min·Marshland Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
4
Merge onto US 278
2.3 mi·2 min·Cross Island Parkway
5
Merge onto US 278
3.9 mi·4 min·William Hilton Parkway
6
Continue on US 278
9.0 mi·13 min·Fording Island Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft·4 sec
9
Merge onto SC 170
12 mi·13 min·Okatie Highway
10
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi·1 min·Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
11
Continue on SC 170
3.5 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
12
Turn slight left onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto US 17
53 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto US 17
0.2 mi·28 sec·Septima P. Clark Parkway
17
Continue on US 17
0.5 mi·1 min·Crosstown
18
Continue on US 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Septima Clark Expressway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
9.8 mi·15 min·US 17
Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, GeorgetownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on US 17
18 mi·23 min·US 17
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
US 17
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 65.2 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.3 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Awendaw, 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 130.5 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 US 17 for about 80.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.2 mi from Hilton Head Island, SC
· 1h 27m into the drive
The midpoint is around 65.2 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.3 miles.
Arriving in Awendaw, SC
The final approach into Awendaw, 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 Awendaw, 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.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.41 one way
$40.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.31
$44.63
premium
$4.70
$24.15
$48.31
diesel
$5.61
$28.81
$57.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.42
$5.22
EV Truck/SUV
52.2
0
$18.27
$8.35
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Afternoon
in Hilton Head Island on Friday
Local time
4:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Awendaw, SC
Afternoon
in Awendaw on Friday
Local time
4:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Hollywood, SC
65 mi in
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
5 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
3h 1m 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 Hilton Head Island, SC to Awendaw, SC covers 130.5 miles and takes about 3h 1m 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 65.2 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 $20.41 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 130.5 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 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 36.8 miles (US 21 / Trask Parkway): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Awendaw, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Georgetown along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
How this page is built
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.
