Origin
Bluffton, SC
Late night in Bluffton on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bluffton, SC to Hilton Head, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
7.6 mi
12 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Bluffton to Hilton Head is a brief, 7.6-mile excursion that typically takes about 12 minutes to complete. Because the distance is so short, this trip is best suited as a quick day outing rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Fording Island Road, Burnt Church Road, and the William Hilton Parkway. With fuel costs estimated at just $1, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute within the Southeast region. It is a straightforward journey that provides a seamless transition between these two South Carolina locations, allowing you to reach your destination with minimal time behind the wheel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Fording Island Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Burnt Church Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Bruin Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
William Hilton Parkway
— 3.4 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluffton, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on Bruin Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bruin Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto Burnt Church Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Burnt Church Road
3
Turn right onto US 278
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Fording Island Road
4
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
5
Arrive at destination
US 278
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 1.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Burnt Church Road
At end of road, turn left onto Burnt Church Road
Navigation decision point
3
1.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 278 / Fording Island Road
Turn right onto US 278 / Fording Island Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.19 one way
$2.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.30 | $2.60 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.41 | $2.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.68 | $3.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.3 | 0 | $0.80 | $0.36 |
| Efficient EV | 1.9 | 0 | $0.66 | $0.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.49 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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, SC
Late night in Hilton Head on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
25 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
12m 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?
This 7.6-mile drive offers a mixed profile, balancing local roads with a significant highway presence. Approximately 45% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady pace for nearly half of the trip. You will encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving along a 3.4-mile segment of the William Hilton Parkway. The transition from the residential feel of Bluffton to the coastal environment of Hilton Head is efficient, moving you quickly through the landscape. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.4 mi on William Hilton Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Burnt Church Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bluffton, SC to Hilton Head, SC is easy. At 12m with 45% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Burnt Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 278 / Fording Island Road): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
27 ft
6 ft
Total Climb
32 ft
Total Descent
45 ft
Highest Point
27 ft
~6 mi in
Elevation Range
22 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 12m. Total distance: 7.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.4 miles on William Hilton Parkway. 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: at 0.5 miles (Burnt Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (US 278 / Fording Island Road): Navigation decision point.
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, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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