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Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Varnville, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

63.9 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m

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 Varnville, SC, SC

Varnville, SC

Daniel Sell

Trip Overview

The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Varnville, SC covers 63.9 miles and takes about 1h 34m 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 $9.96 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.

Midpoint

31.9 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 63.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 34m drive with frequent turns across 63.9 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.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Varnville, SC is easy. At 1h 34m 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 Varnville, 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
West Frontage Road

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 Varnville, 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

9.7 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive
13

Turn right onto West Frontage Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Frontage Road
14

Turn left onto Morgandollar Road

4.0 mi · 6 min · Morgandollar Road
15

At the end of the road, turn right onto Grays Highway

17 mi · 25 min · Grays Highway
16

Turn right

177 ft · 12 sec
17

Turn left onto Yemassee Highway

469 ft · 8 sec · Yemassee Highway
18

Continue on Augusta Highway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Augusta Highway
19

Continue on East Carolina Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Carolina Avenue
20

Turn right onto Main Street

108 ft · 4 sec · Main Street
21

Turn right onto East Palmetto Avenue

249 ft · 16 sec · East Palmetto Avenue
22

Turn left onto North Palm Street

167 ft · 7 sec · North Palm Street
23

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 31.9 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 47m 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 14 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 31.9 miles or 47m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Varnville, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hilton Head Island, SC

This is one driving day of about 63.9 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.9 mi from Hilton Head Island, SC · 47m into the drive

town in South Carolina, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ridgeland, SC

32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ridgeland, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.9 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Varnville, SC

The final approach into Varnville, SC usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.96 one way

$19.93 round trip

$3.96/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $11.14 $22.28
premium $4.78 $12.02 $24.04
diesel $5.62 $14.15 $28.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.2 0 $6.71 $3.07
Efficient EV 16 0 $5.59 $2.56
EV Truck/SUV 25.6 0 $8.95 $4.09

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Hilton Head Island, SC

Morning in Hilton Head Island on Saturday

Local time

6:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Varnville, SC

Morning in Varnville on Saturday

Local time

6:12 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Ridgeland, SC

32 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

32 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

1h 34m 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 Varnville, SC covers 63.9 miles and takes about 1h 34m 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 31.9 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 $9.96 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.

The drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Varnville, SC is easy. At 1h 34m 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 Varnville, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Hilton Head Island, SC to Varnville, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Varnville, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Plan the drive back the other way.

64.4 mi 1h 35m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.