Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Evening in Hilton Head Island on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
156.9 mi
253 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 54m
★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 28m
8 PM
2h 59m
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
South Congaree, SC
Junior Bastos
Trip Overview
The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Marshland Road, Cross Island Parkway, William Hilton Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.54 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
78.5 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 5m drive with frequent turns across 156.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Marshland Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC is easy. At 3h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Marshland Road | — | — |
| Cross Island Parkway | — | — |
| William Hilton Parkway | — | — |
| Fording Island Road | — | — |
| Okatie Highway | — | — |
| Lowcountry Drive | — | — |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | — | — |
| I 95 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Marshland Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and South Congaree, SC.
1
Start on Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Allen Road
2
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
3
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
5
Merge slight left onto William Hilton Parkway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
6
Continue on Fording Island Road
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Fording Island Road
7
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
8
Keep slight right
148 ft
·
4 sec
9
Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
10
Take the exit slight left
489 ft
·
14 sec
11
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
12
Continue on Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
13
Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
14
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 West: Columbia
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 26 West: Columbia
16
Merge slight left
55 mi
·
59 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward SC 302: Columbia Airport, Cayce
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
SC 302: Columbia Airport, Cayce
18
Continue on Commerce Drive
512 ft
·
17 sec
·
Commerce Drive
19
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport Boulevard
20
Continue on Edmund Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Edmund Highway
21
Continue on Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
22
Turn right onto Ramblin Road
46 ft
·
1 sec
·
Ramblin Road
23
Arrive at your destination
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 78.5 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
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 35 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.5 miles or 1h 32m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Congaree, 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 156.9 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.5 mi from Hilton Head Island, SC · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.5 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in South Congaree, SC
The final approach into South Congaree, 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 South Congaree, 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
$24.54 one way
$49.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $26.83 | $53.65 |
| premium | $4.70 | $29.04 | $58.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.64 | $69.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.47 | $7.53 |
| Efficient EV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.73 | $6.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
South Congaree, SC
Evening in South Congaree on Wednesday
Local time
7:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
11 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 5m 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 South Congaree, SC covers 156.9 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Marshland Road, Cross Island Parkway, William Hilton Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.5 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 $24.54 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.
The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC is easy. At 3h 5m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Congaree, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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