The drive from Union, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 209.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, Kershaw Highway, Manning Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.1 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.81 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
104.9 miles from Union, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 209.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Union, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 209.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 93.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 81.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn sharp left
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
81.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
81.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
93.1 mi
1h 39m
Kershaw Highway
14.4 mi
16m
Manning Road
12.1 mi
13m
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.6 mi
13m
Fording Island Road
9.3 mi
12m
Kershaw Camden Highway
8.8 mi
10m
Sumter Highway
8.4 mi
9m
Camden Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 93.1 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on this road
225 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn sharp left
248 ft·7 sec
3
Enter roundabout
11 ft·0 sec
4
Continue
187 ft·3 sec
5
Continue on SC 522
7.7 mi·13 min·Rocky River Road
6
Merge onto US 521; SC 522
1.4 mi·1 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
7
Continue on US 521; SC 522
1.0 mi·1 min·North Main Street
8
Turn left onto US 521
0.8 mi·54 sec·Spring Street
9
Continue on US 521
4.8 mi·5 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
10
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.5 mi·1 min·North Matson Street
11
Continue on US 521; US 601
0.7 mi·47 sec·South Hampton Street
12
Continue on US 521; US 601
2.7 mi·3 min·Kershaw Camden Highway
13
Continue on US 521; US 601
14 mi·16 min·Kershaw Highway
14
Continue on US 521; US 601
4.2 mi·8 min·North Broad Street
15
Continue on US 521
8.4 mi·9 min·Sumter Highway
16
Continue on US 521
6.2 mi·7 min·Camden Highway
17
Continue on US 521
7.6 mi·8 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
18
Continue on US 521
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
19
Turn slight left onto US 521; US 76 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street
20
Turn slight right onto US 521
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
21
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi·4 min·North Guignard Drive
22
Continue on US 521
1.1 mi·1 min·South Guignard Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn right onto US 521
12 mi·13 min·Manning Road
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
25
Merge onto I 95
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
27
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi·13 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
28
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
29
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
31
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi·12 min·Fording Island Road
32
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi·4 min·William Hilton Parkway
33
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 104.9 miles from Union, SC, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 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 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h 8m 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 20m
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 Union, 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 Union, SC
This is one driving day of about 209.8 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Union, 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 I 95 for about 93.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 104.9 mi from Union, SC
· 2h 8m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 209.8
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 57.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.81 one way
$65.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.87
$71.74
premium
$4.70
$38.83
$77.66
diesel
$5.61
$46.32
$92.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.03
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.5
0
$18.36
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.37
$13.43
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Union, SC
Morning
in Union on Friday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hilton Head, SC
Morning
in Hilton Head on Friday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
10 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 11m 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 Union, SC to Hilton Head, SC covers 209.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, Kershaw Highway, Manning Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 104.9 miles from Union, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.81 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 11m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 81.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Union, SC to Hilton Head, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National Park.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
