The drive from Loris, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 231.1 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, East Myrtle Beach Highway, Highway 378 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106.3 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.14 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
115.5 miles from Loris, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 231.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Loris, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 231.1 miles and takes about 4h 47m, 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 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 106.3 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 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 9 Business / Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 231.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 (SC 9 Business / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 701 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles (US 701 Truck / Mill Pond Road): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 9 Business / Main Street
Turn right onto SC 9 Business / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 701 / Broad Street
Turn right onto US 701 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.9 mi into trip|~27m in|US 701 Truck / Mill Pond Road
Turn right onto US 701 Truck / Mill Pond Road
Navigation decision point
6
83.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
84.2 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
106.3 mi
1h 53m
East Myrtle Beach Highway
36.1 mi
43m
Highway 378
22.9 mi
32m
Broad Street
17.8 mi
26m
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.6 mi
13m
Fording Island Road
9.3 mi
12m
Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
10m
Okatie Highway
4.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 106.3 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Loris, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on Railroad Avenue
40 ft·5 sec·Railroad Avenue
2
Turn right onto SC 9 Business
523 ft·14 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto US 701
18 mi·26 min·Broad Street
4
Turn right onto US 701 Truck
1.9 mi·3 min·Mill Pond Road
5
Turn right onto US 378
0.1 mi·14 sec·Wright Boulevard
6
Continue on US 378
23 mi·32 min·Highway 378
7
Continue on US 378
36 mi·43 min·East Myrtle Beach Highway
8
Continue on US 301; US 378
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
9
Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi·4 min·Clarence Coker Highway
10
Continue on US 378
1.1 mi·1 min·Myrtle Beach Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
12
Merge onto I 95
106 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
14
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi·13 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
15
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
16
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
18
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi·12 min·Fording Island Road
19
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi·4 min·William Hilton Parkway
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi·2 min·Cross Island Parkway
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
22
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Marshland Road
23
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Allen Road
24
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
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 115.5 miles from Loris, SC, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.3 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 51 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.5 miles or 2h 28m 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 47m
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 Loris, 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 Loris, SC
This is one driving day of about 231.1 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Loris, 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 I 95 for about 106.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 115.5 mi from Loris, SC
· 2h 28m into the drive
The midpoint is around 115.5 miles from Loris, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106.3 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Coffee Stop
Corner Perk Hilton Head
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Near the end, short detour
1.4 mi from route
~3 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 231.1
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 223.1
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 119.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.14 one way
$72.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$39.51
$79.03
premium
$4.70
$42.77
$85.54
diesel
$5.61
$51.02
$102.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.3
0
$24.27
$11.09
Efficient EV
57.8
0
$20.22
$9.24
EV Truck/SUV
92.4
1
$32.35
$14.79
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Loris, SC
Afternoon
in Loris on Friday
Local time
2:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Afternoon
in Hilton Head Island on Friday
Local time
2:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
10 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
4h 47m 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 Loris, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 231.1 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, East Myrtle Beach Highway, Highway 378. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.5 miles from Loris, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.14 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 231.1 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (SC 9 Business / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 701 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.9 miles (US 701 Truck / Mill Pond Road): Navigation decision point.
The route from Loris, SC to Hilton Head Island, 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.
