Origin
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Afternoon in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
1:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Hilton Head, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 43m
Distance
207.7 mi
334 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 30m
★
6 AM
4h 43m
8 AM
5h 10m
10 AM
4h 52m
12 PM
4h 50m
3 PM
4h 54m
5 PM
5h 9m
8 PM
4h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 207.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Fraser Street, Savannah Highway, Highway 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56 miles on North Fraser Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.48 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
103.9 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Fraser Street | 56 mi | 1h 14m |
| Savannah Highway | 29.7 mi | 43m |
| Highway 17 | 22.3 mi | 27m |
| Ocean Highway | 17.4 mi | 25m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
North Fraser Street
— 56 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Myrtle Beach, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on S-26-358
304 ft
·
13 sec
·
6th Avenue South
2
Turn left onto S-26-521
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hillside Drive South
3
Turn right onto 14th Avenue South
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
14th Avenue South
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 17
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 17 South
5
Continue on US 17
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
North Kings Highway
6
Turn straight onto US 17
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Highway 17
Toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on US 17
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 17 Bypass South
8
Continue on US 17
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Highway 17
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 17
17 mi
·
25 min
·
Ocean Highway
10
Continue on US 17
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
L. H. Siau Bridge
11
Continue on US 17
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
12
Turn left onto US 17
56 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
North Fraser Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 17
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
North Highway 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Septima P. Clark Parkway
15
Continue on US 17
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Spring Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on Spring Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Spring Street
17
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
this road
18
Merge onto US 17
30 mi
·
43 min
·
Savannah Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 17
17 mi
·
22 min
·
Ace Basin Parkway
20
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
22
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft
·
2 sec
·
Trask Parkway
23
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Trask Parkway
24
Turn right onto US 21
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Parris Island Gateway
25
Turn slight right onto SC 170
3.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
27
Continue on SC 170
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Okatie Highway
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
29
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
30
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
31
Arrive at destination
US 278
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 103.9 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 46 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.9 miles or 2h 23m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Myrtle Beach, 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 North Myrtle Beach, SC
This is one driving day of about 207.7 miles and 4h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from North Myrtle Beach, 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 North Fraser Street for about 56 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 103.9 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 164 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South
Turn left onto S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South
Navigation decision point
5
7.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 17 / Highway 17
Turn straight onto US 17 / Highway 17 toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / straight lanes.
Toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown
5
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
US 17 / North Fraser Street
Turn left onto US 17 / North Fraser Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
111.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 35m in
|
US 17 / Savannah Highway
Merge onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
164 mi into trip
|
~3h 48m in
|
Trask Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.48 one way
$64.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $35.51 | $71.03 |
| premium | $4.70 | $38.44 | $76.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.86 | $91.72 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.81 | $9.97 |
| Efficient EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.17 | $8.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.1 | 1 | $29.08 | $13.29 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Destination
Hilton Head, SC
Afternoon in Hilton Head on Saturday
Local time
1:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
S 12 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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
25 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 43m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
$10
near mile 107.4
View on nps.gov
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
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 179.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
207.7 mi in 4h 43m — 32% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: North Fraser Street.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on North Fraser Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 207.7 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.1 miles (S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (US 17 / Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (US 17 / North Fraser Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 43m. Total distance: 207.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on North Fraser Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South): Navigation decision point; at 7.9 miles (US 17 / Highway 17): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles (US 17 / North Fraser Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hilton Head, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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Return Trip
Hilton Head, SC to North Myrtle Beach, SCPlan the drive back the other way.
208 mi
4h 46m
Continue From Hilton Head, SC
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