Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Evening in Hilton Head on Sunday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Lancaster, SC
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
211.2 mi
340 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 57m
★
6 AM
4h 10m
8 AM
4h 36m
10 AM
4h 19m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 35m
8 PM
4h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head, SC
Colon Freld
Lancaster, SC
Mark Stebnicki
Trip Overview
The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Lancaster, SC covers 211.2 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, Okatie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.80 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
105.6 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 9m drive with frequent turns across 211.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
William Hilton 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head, SC to Lancaster, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Hilton Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fording Island Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Okatie Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lowcountry Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 95 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 521 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 521 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
William Hilton Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head, SC and Lancaster, SC.
1
Start on William Hilton Parkway
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
William Hilton Parkway
2
Continue on William Hilton Parkway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
3
Continue on Fording Island Road
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Fording Island Road
4
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
5
Keep slight right
148 ft
·
4 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
7
Take the exit slight left
489 ft
·
14 sec
8
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
9
Continue on Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
10
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
11
Merge slight left
93 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
13
Keep slight left to continue on US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
289 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
14
Turn left
12 mi
·
14 min
15
Turn left onto South Guignard Parkway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Guignard Parkway
16
Continue on South Guignard Drive
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
South Guignard Drive
17
Continue on Bultman Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Bultman Drive
18
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
19
Turn slight right onto Camden Highway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Camden Highway
20
Continue on Thomas Sumter Highway
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Thomas Sumter Highway
21
Continue on Camden Highway
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Camden Highway
22
Continue on Sumter Highway
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Sumter Highway
23
Continue on Broad Street
4.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Broad Street
24
Continue on Kershaw Highway
14 mi
·
16 min
·
Kershaw Highway
25
Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
26
Continue on South Hampton Street
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
South Hampton Street
27
Turn left onto South Matson Street
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Matson Street
28
At the end of the road, turn left onto Kershaw Camden Highway
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
29
Continue on Spring Street
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Spring Street
30
Turn right onto Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
31
Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway
7.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
32
Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Kershaw Camden Highway
33
Continue on Kershaw Highway
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Kershaw Highway
34
Continue on South Market Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
35
Turn left onto East Gay Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Gay Street
36
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
South Main Street
37
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 105.6 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 2h 4m 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.6 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lancaster, 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 211.2 miles and 4h 9m.
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.
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 105.6 mi from Hilton Head, SC · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
106 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 105.6 miles from Hilton Head, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lancaster, SC
The final approach into Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, 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
$33.80 one way
$67.60 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
74 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $36.83 | $73.65 |
| premium | $4.78 | $39.73 | $79.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $46.92 | $93.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.4 | 0 | $22.18 | $10.14 |
| Efficient EV | 52.8 | 0 | $18.48 | $8.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 84.5 | 1 | $29.57 | $13.52 |
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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
Lancaster, SC
Evening in Lancaster on Sunday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
4 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
4h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Lancaster, SC covers 211.2 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, Okatie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 105.6 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 $33.80 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head, SC to Lancaster, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hilton Head, SC to Lancaster, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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