Origin
Brookdale, SC
Late night in Brookdale on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brookdale, SC to Hilton Head, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
114.1 mi
184 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookdale, SC
Colon Freld
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Brookdale to Hilton Head, you are looking at a straightforward 114.1-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day excursion. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this trip is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete the drive in one go. Whether you are heading to the coast for a quick getaway or a business trip, this route offers a functional and efficient path across South Carolina.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.1 miles from Brookdale, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| I 26 | 19.5 mi | 20m |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Okatie Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Russell Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 56.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookdale, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on Dellwood Drive
424 ft
·
20 sec
·
Dellwood Drive
2
Turn right onto Shadow Lawn Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Shadow Lawn Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Old Cameron Road
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Old Cameron Road
4
Continue on SC 33
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Russell Street
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
6
Merge onto I 26
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 26
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169A
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
8
Merge onto I 95
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
10
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
11
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
12
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
14
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
15
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
16
Arrive at destination
US 278
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 16-minute drive, you have plenty of scheduling freedom. You can easily depart in the morning to maximize your time in Hilton Head without needing to plan for formal stops, as the trip is short enough to drive straight through. Keep in mind that with no official stops required, you should ensure your tank is ready for the 114.1-mile haul before you leave. If you prefer a relaxed pace, consider timing your departure to avoid peak interstate traffic, which can occasionally affect flow on I-95. Paying attention to the transition from the interstates onto the Coosaw Scenic Drive will help you stay on track as you approach the coast.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.1 miles from Brookdale, SC, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.6 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
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 Brookdale, 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 Brookdale, SC
This is one driving day of about 114.1 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Brookdale, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 56.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.1 miles from Brookdale, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 22.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Shadow Lawn Drive
Turn right onto Shadow Lawn Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Old Cameron Road
At end of road, turn left onto Old Cameron Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 26 East: Charleston
Navigation decision point
Toward I 26 East: Charleston
5
21.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 169A
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
22.7 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.84 one way
$35.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $19.51 | $39.02 |
| premium | $4.70 | $21.12 | $42.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.19 | $50.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.98 | $5.48 |
| Efficient EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.97 | $7.30 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Ridgeland, SC
57 mi in
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
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
2h 16m 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.
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 114.1
View on nps.gov
Congaree National Park
National Park
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 3.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with about 70% of your time spent on major arteries like I-95, I-26, and the Coosaw Scenic Drive. You will encounter a significant stretch of open road, with your longest uninterrupted segment covering 56.6 miles on I-95. The experience shifts from the high-speed, multi-lane interstate environment to the more localized transition onto the Coosaw Scenic Drive. While the interstate portions provide a consistent rhythm for covering ground quickly, the final legs of the trip introduce a change in pace. Prepare for a mix of cruising at highway speeds and navigating the transition toward your final destination.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.6 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and I 26. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Shadow Lawn Drive.
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 2h 16m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Shadow Lawn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Old Cameron Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Hilton Head, SC
Full guide →Hilton Head Island is a city and barrier island in South Carolina, just across the border from Savannah, Georgia. With an approximate population of 40,000, it is on a beautiful, sub-tropical 12-mile (19-km) barrier island. Hilton Head Island is a vacation playland with famous beaches and great golf courses that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 114.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.6 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Shadow Lawn Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Old Cameron Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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