Origin
Yemassee, SC
Morning in Yemassee on Saturday
Local time
8:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yemassee, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
51.9 mi
84 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yemassee, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Yemassee, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 51.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Coosaw Scenic Drive, I 95, Fording Island Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.6 miles on Coosaw Scenic Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.12 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 51.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Yemassee, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 51.9 miles and takes about 1h 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 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Coosaw Scenic Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 9.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward I 95 South: Savannah
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
11.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
4
46.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
49.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Marshland Road
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| I 95 | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Okatie Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Coosaw Scenic Drive
— 9.6 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yemassee, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on Yemassee Highway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Yemassee Highway
2
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
3
Merge onto I 95
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 95
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
5
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
6
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
7
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
9
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
10
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
13
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
14
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
15
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.9 mi from Yemassee, SC · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Yemassee, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.12 one way
$16.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.87 | $17.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.61 | $19.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.46 | $22.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.27 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Morning in Hilton Head Island on Saturday
Local time
8:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Ridgeland, SC
26 mi in
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
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 11m 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 Yemassee, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC covers 51.9 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Coosaw Scenic Drive, I 95, Fording Island Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 miles from Yemassee, SC. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.9 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 11.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Yemassee, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Reconstruction Era National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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