Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Afternoon in Hilton Head on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Surfside Beach, SC
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 12m
Distance
184.7 mi
297 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 19m
3 PM
4h 23m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Surfside Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Surfside Beach, SC covers 184.7 miles and takes about 4h 12m 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 $28.88 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
92.3 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 12m drive with frequent turns across 184.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 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. 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
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 12m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head, SC to Surfside Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Hilton Parkway | — | — |
| Fording Island Road | — | — |
| Okatie Highway | — | — |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | — | — |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | — | — |
| Parris Island Gateway | — | — |
| Trask Parkway | — | — |
| Septima P | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Surfside Beach, 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
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Okatie Highway
7
Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
8
Continue on Robert Smalls Parkway
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
9
Turn slight left onto Parris Island Gateway
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Parris Island Gateway
10
At the end of the road, turn left onto Trask Parkway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Trask Parkway
11
Take the exit slight right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
12
Merge slight left
53 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
13
Turn straight onto Septima P. Clark Parkway
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Septima P. Clark Parkway
14
Continue on Crosstown
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Crosstown
15
Continue on Septima Clark Expressway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Septima Clark Expressway
16
Keep slight right to continue on US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
9.8 mi
·
15 min
·
US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
17
Continue straight
49 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
18
Keep slight right to continue on North Fraser Street
446 ft
·
6 sec
·
North Fraser Street
19
Merge slight left onto Church Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
20
Continue on L. H. Siau Bridge
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
L. H. Siau Bridge
21
Continue on Ocean Highway
17 mi
·
25 min
·
Ocean Highway
22
Continue on Highway 17
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 17
23
Turn straight onto US 17 Business: Garden City Beach, Surfside Beach
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
US 17 Business: Garden City Beach, Surfside Beach
24
Turn slight right
240 ft
·
9 sec
25
Turn straight onto Surfside Drive
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Surfside Drive
26
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 92.3 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 2h 6m 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.3 miles or 2h 6m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Surfside Beach, 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 184.7 miles and 4h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 92.3 mi from Hilton Head, SC · 2h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
92 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.3 miles from Hilton Head, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Surfside Beach, SC
The final approach into Surfside Beach, 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 Surfside Beach, 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
$28.88 one way
$57.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $31.58 | $63.16 |
| premium | $4.70 | $34.18 | $68.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.78 | $81.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.39 | $8.87 |
| Efficient EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.16 | $7.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.9 | 0 | $25.86 | $11.82 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Surfside Beach, SC
Afternoon in Surfside Beach on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
2 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 12m 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 Surfside Beach, SC covers 184.7 miles and takes about 4h 12m 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 92.3 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 $28.88 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.
Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 12m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head, SC to Surfside Beach, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Hilton Head, SC to Surfside Beach, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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