Trip from Kiawah Island, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

2h 51m

Distance

114.7 mi

185 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

12 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 41m ★

6 AM

2h 52m

8 AM

3h 14m

10 AM

2h 59m

12 PM

2h 57m

3 PM

3h 0m

5 PM

3h 12m

8 PM

2h 45m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Hilton Head Island, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Kiawah Island, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 114.7 miles and takes about 2h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Okatie Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.7 miles on Savannah Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.36 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

57.4 miles from Kiawah Island, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Kiawah Island, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 114.7 miles and takes about 2h 51m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Savannah Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 114.7 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Green Dolphin Way): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (Kiawah Island Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

0 mi into trip | ~0m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~1m in | Green Dolphin Way

Turn right onto Green Dolphin Way

Navigation decision point

0.5 mi into trip | ~2m in | Kiawah Island Parkway

At end of road, turn left onto Kiawah Island Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

4.8 mi into trip | ~11m in | Betsy Kerrison Parkway

Enter roundabout onto Betsy Kerrison Parkway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

65.4 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Trask Parkway

Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Savannah Highway	20.7 mi	27m
Ace Basin Parkway	17.1 mi	22m
Okatie Highway	12.3 mi	14m
Trask Parkway	12 mi	14m
Fording Island Road	9.3 mi	12m
Bohicket Road	7.3 mi	17m
Main Road	6.5 mi	11m
Charleston Highway	5.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: Savannah Highway — 20.7 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on this road

103 ft · 8 sec · this road

Turn right

281 ft · 20 sec

Continue on Turtle Point Lane

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Turtle Point Lane

Turn right onto Green Dolphin Way

0.3 mi · 1 min · Green Dolphin Way

At end of road, turn left onto Kiawah Island Parkway

4.4 mi · 9 min · Kiawah Island Parkway

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto Betsy Kerrison Parkway

28 ft · 0 sec · Betsy Kerrison Parkway

Continue on Betsy Kerrison Parkway

3.1 mi · 7 min · Betsy Kerrison Parkway

Continue on Bohicket Road

7.3 mi · 17 min · Bohicket Road

Continue on Main Road

6.5 mi · 11 min · Main Road

Turn left onto US 17

21 mi · 27 min · Savannah Highway

Continue on US 17

17 mi · 22 min · Ace Basin Parkway

Continue on US 17

5.6 mi · 7 min · Charleston Highway

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway

207 ft · 2 sec · Trask Parkway

Continue on Trask Parkway

12 mi · 14 min · Trask Parkway

Turn right onto US 21

1.2 mi · 1 min · Parris Island Gateway

Turn slight right onto SC 170

3.5 mi · 3 min · Robert Smalls Parkway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on SC 170

1.7 mi · 1 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

Continue on SC 170

12 mi · 14 min · Okatie Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto US 278

9.3 mi · 12 min · Fording Island Road

Continue on US 278

3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 278

2.4 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 59 sec

Turn left onto Marshland Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road

Turn right onto Allen Road

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Allen Road

Arrive at destination

Allen Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 57.4 miles from Kiawah Island, SC, or about 1h 35m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.7 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 80 miles or 2h 4m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.4 miles or 1h 35m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head Island, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kiawah Island, 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 Kiawah Island, SC

This is one driving day of about 114.7 miles and 2h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kiawah Island, 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 Savannah Highway for about 20.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.4 mi from Kiawah Island, SC · 1h 35m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charleston, SC

57 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.

Popular next leg

Charleston, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

104.6 mi · 2h 23m

Pacing Suggestions

Charleston, SC

Fuel and coffee

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

Charleston, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.4 miles from Kiawah Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hilton Head Island, SC

The final approach into Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island, 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

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 79.1

View on nps.gov

Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...

13 mi from route ~33 min detour $10 near mile 15.8

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.36 one way

$36.71 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$20.00	$40.00
premium	$4.78	$21.58	$43.15
diesel	$5.64	$25.48	$50.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

12 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Citadel Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Charleston, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Target - Tesla Supercharger

Bluffton, SC

Tesla

12 DCFC

Parker's Kitchen - Tesla Supercharger

Hilton Head Island, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

Harris Teeter - Tesla Supercharger

Hilton Head Island, SC

Tesla

8 DCFC

CircleK - Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island, SC

CIRCLE_K

2 DCFC

GOC GOC PUBLIC #1

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

GOC GOC PUBLIC #2

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

HOC HOC PUBLIC #2

Charleston, SC

ChargePoint Network

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 Tesla: 4 Non-Networked: 1 CIRCLE_K: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.4	$12.04	$5.51
Efficient EV	28.7	$10.04	$4.59
EV Truck/SUV	45.9	$16.06	$7.34

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Kiawah Island, SC

Afternoon in Kiawah Island on Tuesday

Local time

2:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton Head Island, SC

Afternoon in Hilton Head Island on Tuesday

Local time

2:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°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

9 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

2h 51m 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 Kiawah Island, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 114.7 miles and takes about 2h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, Okatie Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 57.4 miles from Kiawah Island, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.36 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

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

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Hilton Head Island, SC

Huston, ID 2487.5 mi · 43h 55m Fashing, TX 1217.8 mi · 22h 48m Farmers Branch, TX 1029.3 mi · 19h 25m Lyman, SC 253.1 mi · 4h 53m

More trips to Hilton Head Island, SC

Blacksburg, SC 261.5 mi Lyman, SC 252.7 mi Chester, SC 219.2 mi Clinton, SC 215.1 mi Dillon, SC 204.7 mi Marion, SC 200.4 mi

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.

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