Origin
Beaufort, SC
Morning in Beaufort on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Beaufort, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Beaufort, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between two iconic South Carolina coastal gems, the 39.8-mile journey from Beaufort to Hilton Head Island is an easy choice. Expect to spend about 56 minutes behind the wheel as you navigate primarily via Carteret Street, Boundary Street, and Robert Smalls Parkway. Since this is a short trip, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, saving you the hassle of planning an overnight stay. With fuel costs estimated at just $6, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move through the Southeast region. This route is all about local convenience, making it a straightforward transit rather than a long-haul expedition.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Boundary Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Okatie Highway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beaufort, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on Port Republic Street
39 ft
·
3 sec
·
Port Republic Street
2
Turn right onto US 21 Business
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Carteret Street
3
Continue on US 21 Business
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Boundary Street
4
Turn left onto SC 170
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
5
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
6
Continue on SC 170
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Okatie Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
8
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
9
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
12
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
13
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
14
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.2 miles from Beaufort, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 21 Business / Carteret Street
Turn right onto US 21 Business / Carteret Street
Navigation decision point
3
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Turn left onto SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Navigation decision point
3
21.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
35.2 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
38 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Marshland Road
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.33 one way
$12.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.92 | $13.85 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.50 | $14.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Forget about monotonous interstate cruising; this path is a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish. You will find zero highway miles on this route, meaning you are navigating through the heart of the local landscape rather than bypassing it on a high-speed artery. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on Carteret Street, you should prepare for frequent turns and a consistent pace through the local infrastructure. The road maintains a steady, moderate intensity that requires your full attention throughout the hour-long trip. It is a practical, ground-level perspective of the region that relies entirely on local roads to connect your two destinations.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Okatie Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 21 Business / Carteret Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 8 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 (US 21 Business / Carteret Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Okatie Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 21 Business / Carteret Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.6 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hilton Head Island, SC before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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