Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Afternoon in Hilton Head on Wednesday
Local time
3:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Pendleton, SC
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
5h 22m
Distance
273.7 mi
441 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 9m
★
6 AM
5h 23m
8 AM
5h 49m
10 AM
5h 32m
12 PM
5h 29m
3 PM
5h 33m
5 PM
5h 48m
8 PM
5h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Pendleton, SC
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Pendleton, SC covers 273.7 miles and takes about 5h 22m 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 $42.80 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
136.9 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 22m drive with frequent turns across 273.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 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 5h 22m 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 Pendleton, 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 |
| I 26 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 385 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 Pendleton, 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
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 West: Columbia
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 26 West: Columbia
13
Merge slight left
117 mi
·
2 hr 6 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
30 mi
·
32 min
·
I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
0.5 mi
·
34 sec
·
I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 185: Atlanta, Anderson
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 185: Atlanta, Anderson
17
Merge slight left onto Southern Connector
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Southern Connector
18
Take the exit slight right toward SC 20
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
SC 20
19
Keep slight left
203 ft
·
10 sec
20
Turn left onto Piedmont Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Piedmont Highway
21
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
22
Continue on Anderson Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Anderson Street
23
Continue on Highway 86
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 86
24
Turn left onto Major Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Major Road
25
Continue on Moore Road
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Moore Road
26
Continue on Old Greenville Highway
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Old Greenville Highway
27
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Greenville Highway
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
Old Greenville Highway
28
Exit the roundabout onto Old Greenville Highway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Greenville Highway
29
Continue on Highway 88
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 88
30
Continue on Old Greenville Highway
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Old Greenville Highway
31
Continue on Greenville Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenville Street
32
Continue on East Queen Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Queen Street
33
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 136.9 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 2h 41m 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 136.9 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pendleton, 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 273.7 miles and 5h 22m.
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 136.9 mi from Hilton Head, SC · 2h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 136.9 miles from Hilton Head, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pendleton, SC
The final approach into Pendleton, 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 Pendleton, 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
$42.80 one way
$85.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $46.80 | $93.60 |
| premium | $4.70 | $50.66 | $101.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.43 | $120.86 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.74 | $13.14 |
| Efficient EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.95 | $10.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.32 | $17.52 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Pendleton, SC
Afternoon in Pendleton on Wednesday
Local time
3:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Belmont, NC
137 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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 22m 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 Pendleton, SC covers 273.7 miles and takes about 5h 22m 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 136.9 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 $42.80 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 5h 22m 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 Pendleton, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hilton Head, SC to Pendleton, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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