Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Late night in Hilton Head on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC
Data updated 1 second ago
Drive Time
10m
Distance
5.6 mi
9 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 10m
★
6 AM
0h 11m
8 AM
0h 13m
10 AM
0h 11m
12 PM
0h 11m
3 PM
0h 11m
5 PM
0h 12m
8 PM
0h 10m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 5.6 miles and takes about 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Cross Island Parkway, Marshland Road, Allen Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.88 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
2.8 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 10m drive with frequent turns across 5.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 6 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Cross Island Parkway 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, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is easy. At 10m 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, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Cross Island Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marshland Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Allen Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Cross Island Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on William Hilton Parkway
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
William Hilton Parkway
2
Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
3
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
4
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
5
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Allen Road
6
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 2.8 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 5m 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 5.6 miles or 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 2.8 miles or 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head Island, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hilton Head, 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, SC
This is one driving day of about 5.6 miles and 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hilton Head, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 2.8 mi from Hilton Head, SC · 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
3 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 5.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 2.8 miles from Hilton Head, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hilton Head Island, SC
The final approach into Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island, 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
$0.88 one way
$1.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $0.96 | $1.92 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.04 | $2.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.24 | $2.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.59 | $0.27 |
| Efficient EV | 1.4 | 0 | $0.49 | $0.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.78 | $0.36 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Hilton Head Island, SC
Late night in Hilton Head Island on Wednesday
Local time
2:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
3 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
10m 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, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 5.6 miles and takes about 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Cross Island Parkway, Marshland Road, Allen Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 2.8 miles from Hilton Head, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $0.88 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, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is easy. At 10m 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, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hilton Head, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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