Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Camden, SC

Drive Time

3h 21m

Distance

172.2 mi

277 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

Trip Overview

The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Camden, SC covers 172.2 miles and takes about 3h 21m 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 $26.85 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

86.1 miles from Hilton Head, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 21m drive with frequent turns across 172.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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.

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 Camden, 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

1.1 mi · 2 min · Broad Street
24

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 86.1 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 1h 40m 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 86.1 miles or 1h 40m 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 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Camden, 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 172.2 miles and 3h 21m.

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 86.1 mi from Hilton Head, SC · 1h 40m into the drive

Downtown Charlotte, NC, NC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charlotte, NC

86 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

Charlotte, NC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charlotte, NC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.1 miles from Hilton Head, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Camden, SC

The final approach into Camden, 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 Camden, 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

$26.85 one way

$53.71 round trip

$3.96/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $30.03 $60.05
premium $4.78 $32.39 $64.79
diesel $5.62 $38.13 $76.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.7 0 $18.08 $8.27
Efficient EV 43.1 0 $15.07 $6.89
EV Truck/SUV 68.9 0 $24.11 $11.02

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Hilton Head, SC

Morning in Hilton Head on Saturday

Local time

9:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Camden, SC

Morning in Camden on Saturday

Local time

9:02 AM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

65°F

Charlotte, NC

86 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

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

3h 21m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Camden, SC covers 172.2 miles and takes about 3h 21m 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 86.1 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 $26.85 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.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to Camden, SC

Explore more options from Hilton Head, SC or browse trips ending in Camden, SC.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.

Explore maps for Hilton Head, SC or Camden, SC on MapSof.net.