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Trip from Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 50m

Distance

184.1 mi

296 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 37m ★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 16m
10 AM
3h 59m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 43m

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

Downtown Pamplico, SC, SC

Pamplico, SC

대정 김

Downtown Hilton Head Island, SC, SC

Hilton Head Island, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 184.1 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on North Walnut Street, North Pamplico Highway, Hyman Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.79 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

92.1 miles from Pamplico, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 184.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 184.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Walnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is easy. At 3h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Walnut Street
North Pamplico Highway
Hyman Road
South Friendfield Road
Clarence Coker Highway
Myrtle Beach Highway
I 95 South
SC 462

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: North Walnut Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Walnut Street

39 ft · 9 sec · North Walnut Street
2

Continue on North Walnut Street

75 ft · 4 sec · North Walnut Street
3

Turn right onto North Pamplico Highway

1.9 mi · 3 min · North Pamplico Highway
4

Turn left onto Hyman Road

4.0 mi · 9 min · Hyman Road
5

At the end of the road, turn left onto South Friendfield Road

4.2 mi · 10 min · South Friendfield Road
6

At the end of the road, turn right

22 mi · 27 min
7

Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway

3.5 mi · 4 min · Clarence Coker Highway
8

Continue on Myrtle Beach Highway

1.1 mi · 1 min · Myrtle Beach Highway
9

Take the exit left toward I 95 South: Savannah

0.3 mi · 40 sec · I 95 South: Savannah
10

Merge slight left

106 mi · 1 hr 53 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

0.3 mi · 37 sec · SC 462: Coosawhatchie
12

Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive

9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive
13

Continue on Lowcountry Drive

7.9 mi · 10 min · Lowcountry Drive
14

Turn right onto Okatie Highway

4.2 mi · 4 min · Okatie Highway
15

Take the exit slight right

0.3 mi · 37 sec
16

Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

9.3 mi · 12 min · Fording Island Road
17

Continue on William Hilton Parkway

3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway
18

Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway

2.4 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway
19

Take the exit slight right

0.4 mi · 59 sec
20

Turn left onto Marshland Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road
21

Turn right onto Allen Road

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Allen Road
22

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 92.1 miles from Pamplico, SC, or about 1h 55m 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 41 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 92.1 miles or 1h 55m 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 8m

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 Pamplico, 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 Pamplico, SC

This is one driving day of about 184.1 miles and 3h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Pamplico, 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 92.1 mi from Pamplico, SC · 1h 55m into the drive

Downtown Holly Hill, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Holly Hill, SC

92 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

Lake City, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Holly Hill, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 92.1 miles from Pamplico, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.79 one way

$57.58 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 64 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $31.48 $62.96
premium $4.70 $34.07 $68.15
diesel $5.61 $40.65 $81.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55.2 0 $19.33 $8.84
Efficient EV 46 0 $16.11 $7.36
EV Truck/SUV 73.6 0 $25.77 $11.78

Gas CO2

64 kg

EV CO2

22 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Pamplico, SC

Morning in Pamplico on Friday

Local time

10:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton Head Island, SC

Morning in Hilton Head Island on Friday

Local time

10:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°F

Holly Hill, SC

92 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

11 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

3h 50m 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 Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 184.1 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are North Walnut Street, North Pamplico Highway, Hyman Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 92.1 miles from Pamplico, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.79 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.

The drive from Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is easy. At 3h 50m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pamplico, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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