Origin
North Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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
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
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 drive. 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 .
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 drive route profile.
The drive from North Myrtle Beach, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 207.7 miles and takes about 4h 43m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto S-26-521 / Hillside Drive South
Navigation decision point
Turn straight onto US 17 / Highway 17 toward US 17 North: Conway, Georgetown
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto US 17 / North Fraser Street
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 17 / Savannah Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between North Myrtle Beach, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
Start on S-26-358
Turn left onto S-26-521
Turn right onto 14th Avenue South
At end of road, turn left onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Turn straight onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Turn left onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on Spring Street
Continue on this road
Merge onto US 17
Continue on US 17
Continue on US 17
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Continue on Trask Parkway
Turn right onto US 21
Turn slight right onto SC 170
Continue on SC 170
Continue on SC 170
Take the exit
Merge onto US 278
Continue on US 278
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 103.9 mi from North Myrtle Beach, SC · 2h 23m into the drive
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.
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 103.9 miles from North Myrtle Beach, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Hilton Head, 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, SC.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$32.48 one way
$64.96 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in North Myrtle Beach on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Hilton Head on Saturday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. 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.
Explore more options from North Myrtle Beach, SC or browse trips ending in Hilton Head, SC.
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