Drive Time
53m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: Scott Platt
The drive from Port Royal, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 38.3 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Okatie Highway, Fording Island Road, William Hilton Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.3 miles on Okatie Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.13 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
19.2 miles from Port Royal, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a 53m drive with frequent turns across 38.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 21 / Ribaut Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.4 miles (US 21 / Ribaut Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (SC 128 / Savannah Highway): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 21 / Ribaut Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto SC 128 / Savannah Highway
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Savannah Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Parris Island Gateway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Port Royal, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
Start on Paris Avenue
Turn left onto US 21
Continue on US 21
Continue on US 21
Turn left onto SC 128
Turn left onto SC 170
Continue on SC 170
Continue on SC 170
Take the exit
Merge onto US 278
Continue on US 278
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
Take the exit
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Turn right onto Allen Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 38.3 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.2 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head Island, SC than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Port Royal, 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 Port Royal, SC
This is one driving day of about 38.3 miles and 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.2 mi from Port Royal, SC · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.2 miles from Port Royal, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$6.13 one way
$12.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.68 | $13.36 |
| premium | $4.78 | $7.20 | $14.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.51 | $17.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Port Royal on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Hilton Head Island on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
65°F
Charleston, SC
19 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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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