Origin
Southern Shops, SC
Evening in Southern Shops on Wednesday
Local time
5:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southern Shops, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
249.2 mi
401 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 35m
★
6 AM
4h 49m
8 AM
5h 16m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
5h 0m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Southern Shops, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 249.2 miles and takes about 4h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Robin Circle, Shea Marie Street, Fairforest Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.97 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
124.6 miles from Southern Shops, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 48m drive with frequent turns across 249.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Robin Circle 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Southern Shops, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Robin Circle | — | — |
| Shea Marie Street | — | — |
| Fairforest Road | — | — |
| International Drive | — | — |
| I 85 | — | — |
| Veterans Parkway | — | — |
| I 26 East | — | — |
| Charleston | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Robin Circle
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southern Shops, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on Surf Lane
213 ft
·
15 sec
·
Surf Lane
2
Turn left onto Robin Circle
220 ft
·
12 sec
·
Robin Circle
3
Turn right onto Shea Marie Street
384 ft
·
23 sec
·
Shea Marie Street
4
Turn left onto Fairforest Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairforest Road
5
Turn right onto International Drive
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
International Drive
6
Take the ramp slight left toward I 85 Business South: Greenville
390 ft
·
10 sec
·
I 85 Business South: Greenville
7
Merge slight left onto Veterans Parkway
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Veterans Parkway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 East: Columbia
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 26 East: Columbia
9
Merge slight left
89 mi
·
1 hr 37 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on Charleston
60 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
Charleston
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 South: Savannah
12
Merge slight left
57 mi
·
1 hr
13
Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
SC 462: Coosawhatchie
14
Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
15
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
16
Turn right onto Okatie Highway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
17
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
18
Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
19
Continue on William Hilton Parkway
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
20
Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
21
Take the exit slight right
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
·
39 sec
·
Allen Road
24
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 124.6 miles from Southern Shops, SC, or about 2h 24m 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 124.6 miles or 2h 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 3h 56m
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 Southern Shops, 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 Southern Shops, SC
This is one driving day of about 249.2 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Southern Shops, 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 124.6 mi from Southern Shops, SC · 2h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
125 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 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 124.6 miles from Southern Shops, 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
$38.97 one way
$77.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
87 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $42.61 | $85.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $46.12 | $92.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.02 | $110.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.8 | 0 | $26.17 | $11.96 |
| Efficient EV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.80 | $9.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99.7 | 1 | $34.89 | $15.95 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 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.
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Evening in Hilton Head Island on Wednesday
Local time
5:08 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
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
4h 48m 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 Southern Shops, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 249.2 miles and takes about 4h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Robin Circle, Shea Marie Street, Fairforest Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.6 miles from Southern Shops, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.97 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 is a straightforward 4h 48m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Southern Shops, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Southern Shops, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hilton Head Island, SC
More trips to Hilton Head Island, SC
Explore more options from Southern Shops, SC or browse trips ending in Hilton Head Island, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.
Explore maps for Southern Shops, SC or Hilton Head Island, SC on MapSof.net.