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Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Batesburg, SC

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

Drive Time

3h 34m

Distance

154.5 mi

249 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 22m ★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

resort town in South Carolina, USA

Hilton Head, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Batesburg, SC, SC

Batesburg, SC

Connor Scott McManus

Trip Overview

The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Batesburg, SC covers 154.5 miles and takes about 3h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Fairview Road, Carolina Highway, Grays Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.1 miles on Fairview Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.16 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

77.2 miles from Hilton Head, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 154.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (8%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 34m drive with frequent turns across 154.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Fairview Road is the longest continuous segment at about 20.1 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 34m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.6 miles (SC 462 / Morgandollar Road): Navigation decision point; at 39.5 miles (US 278; SC 462 / Grays Highway): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
13.3 mi into trip | ~18m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
35.6 mi into trip | ~49m in | SC 462 / Morgandollar Road

Turn left onto SC 462 / Morgandollar Road

Navigation decision point

4
39.5 mi into trip | ~56m in | US 278; SC 462 / Grays Highway

At end of road, turn right onto US 278; SC 462 / Grays Highway

Navigation decision point

5
56.7 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | SC 68 / Yemassee Highway

Turn left onto SC 68 / Yemassee Highway

Navigation decision point

4
82.6 mi into trip | ~1h 59m in | US 321 / Carolina Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 321 / Carolina Highway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Fairview Road 20.1 mi 29m
Carolina Highway 19.7 mi 22m
Grays Highway 17.2 mi 25m
Savannah Highway 15.7 mi 18m
Bufords Bridge Highway 10.9 mi 15m
Coosaw Scenic Drive 9.7 mi 13m
Fording Island Road 9 mi 13m
Highway 178 8.3 mi 11m
Longest stretch: Fairview Road — 20.1 mi, about 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head, SC and Batesburg, SC.

1

Start on US 278

0.3 mi · 28 sec · William Hilton Parkway
2

Continue on US 278

3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway
3

Continue on US 278

9.0 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
5

Keep slight right at fork

147 ft · 4 sec
6

Merge onto SC 170

3.9 mi · 4 min · Okatie Highway
7

Take the exit

488 ft · 13 sec
8

Continue on SC 462

7.9 mi · 10 min · Lowcountry Drive
9

Continue on SC 462

9.7 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive
10

Turn right onto SC 462

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Frontage Road
11

Turn left onto SC 462

4.0 mi · 6 min · Morgandollar Road
12

At end of road, turn right onto US 278; SC 462

17 mi · 25 min · Grays Highway
13

Turn right

177 ft · 11 sec
14

Turn left onto SC 68

469 ft · 7 sec · Yemassee Highway
15

Continue on US 278

1.1 mi · 1 min · Augusta Highway
16

Continue on US 278

2.1 mi · 3 min · East Carolina Avenue
17

Continue on US 278

2.7 mi · 4 min · Elm Street East
18

Continue on US 278

3.7 mi · 5 min · Augusta Highway
19

Continue on US 278

1.4 mi · 2 min · Railroad Avenue Southeast
20

Continue on US 278

1.8 mi · 2 min · Augusta Highway
21

Continue on US 278

1.1 mi · 1 min · Allendale-Hampton Highway
22

Turn right onto US 321

1.0 mi · 1 min · Hampton Avenue
23

Continue on US 321

11 mi · 15 min · Bufords Bridge Highway
24

Keep slight left at fork onto US 321

20 mi · 22 min · Carolina Highway
25

Continue on US 321

16 mi · 18 min · Savannah Highway
26

Turn left onto US 178

5.4 mi · 8 min · North Road
27

Continue on US 178

8.3 mi · 11 min · Highway 178
28

Continue on US 178

1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street
29

Continue on US 178

20 mi · 29 min · Fairview Road
30

Continue on US 178

1.5 mi · 2 min · South Pine Street
31

Turn right onto SC 23

119 ft · 3 sec · West Church Street
32

Arrive at destination

SC 23

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 77.2 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 miles.

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 34 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 77.2 miles or 1h 52m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Batesburg, 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 154.5 miles and 3h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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.
The longest stretch is on Fairview Road for about 20.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 77.2 mi from Hilton Head, SC · 1h 52m into the drive

Downtown Boiling Springs, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Boiling Springs, SC

77 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

Ridgeland, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Boiling Springs, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 77.2 miles from Hilton Head, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Batesburg, SC

The final approach into Batesburg, 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 Batesburg, SC.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

Reconstruction Era National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour Free
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park

National Park

Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...

24 mi from route ~61 min detour Free near mile 117.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.16 one way

$48.32 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $26.42 $52.83
premium $4.70 $28.59 $57.19
diesel $5.61 $34.11 $68.22

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 46.4 0 $16.22 $7.42
Efficient EV 38.6 0 $13.52 $6.18
EV Truck/SUV 61.8 0 $21.63 $9.89

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 kg (67% 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, SC

Morning in Hilton Head on Saturday

Local time

9:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Batesburg, SC

Morning in Batesburg on Saturday

Local time

9:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Boiling Springs, SC

77 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

33 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

3h 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, SC to Batesburg, SC covers 154.5 miles and takes about 3h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Fairview Road, Carolina Highway, Grays Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 77.2 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 $24.16 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 3h 34m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 35.6 miles (SC 462 / Morgandollar Road): Navigation decision point; at 39.5 miles (US 278; SC 462 / Grays Highway): Navigation decision point.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National Park.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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