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Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Sumter, SC

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 55m

Distance

148 mi

238 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 45m ★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m

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

Downtown Hilton Head Island, SC, SC

Hilton Head Island, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown South Sumter, SC, SC

South Sumter, SC

Connor Scott McManus

Trip Overview

The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Sumter, SC covers 148 miles and takes about 2h 55m 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 $23.14 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

74 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 55m drive with frequent turns across 148 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 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 Sumter, SC is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Sumter, 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 Sumter, 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

93 mi · 1 hr 39 min
15

Take the exit slight right toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter

0.3 mi · 41 sec · US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
16

Keep slight left to continue on US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

289 ft · 7 sec · US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
17

Turn left

14 mi · 17 min
18

Turn left onto Atlantic Street

0.3 mi · 50 sec · Atlantic Street
19

Turn right onto Branch Street

115 ft · 5 sec · Branch Street
20

Arrive at your destination

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 1h 27m 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 33 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 74 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Sumter, 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 148 miles and 2h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 74 mi from Hilton Head Island, SC · 1h 27m into the drive

city in South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Walterboro, SC

74 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

Bluffton, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Walterboro, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South Sumter, SC

The final approach into South Sumter, 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 Sumter, 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

$23.14 one way

$46.29 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $25.31 $50.61
premium $4.70 $27.39 $54.78
diesel $5.61 $32.68 $65.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 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 44.4 0 $15.54 $7.10
Efficient EV 37 0 $12.95 $5.92
EV Truck/SUV 59.2 0 $20.72 $9.47

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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

Evening in Hilton Head Island on Wednesday

Local time

7:38 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Sumter, SC

Evening in South Sumter on Wednesday

Local time

7:38 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

2h 55m 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 Sumter, SC covers 148 miles and takes about 2h 55m 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 74 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 $23.14 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.
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 Sumter, SC is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Sumter, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hilton Head Island, SC to South Sumter, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore more options from Hilton Head Island, SC or browse trips ending in South Sumter, SC.

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