Origin
Dillon, SC
Late night in Dillon on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dillon, 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
3h 56m
Distance
204.7 mi
329 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dillon, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dillon to Hilton Head Island covers 204.7 miles through the South Carolina Southeast region. Expect a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 56 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that allows you to reach the coast by afternoon. With a fuel budget of about $33, this journey is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates before transitioning to local roads near your destination. Because this route is a straightforward, highway-focused trek, you can easily complete it in one day without needing an overnight stop. It is a practical connection between the interior of the state and the barrier islands.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
102.3 miles from Dillon, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 161.3 mi | 2h 53m |
| 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 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 161.3 mi, about 2h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dillon, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on US 301; US 501
24 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 301; US 501
2
Turn left onto SC 34
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn slight left onto SC 34
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 34
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
5
Merge onto I 95
161 mi
·
2 hr 53 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
7
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
8
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
9
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
11
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
12
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
15
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
16
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
17
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of your time on the road, aim to depart early to avoid potential congestion on I-95. Since the entire trip takes less than four hours, you only need to plan for one intentional stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep your $33 fuel budget in mind, but consider topping off your tank before you leave Dillon to ensure a stress-free transit. The flexibility of a one-day trip means you can time your arrival to match your check-in or coastal plans perfectly. Pay close attention to your GPS once you turn off the interstate, as navigating the local roads like Fording Island Road requires a bit more focus than the long, straight stretches of the highway.
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 102.3 miles from Dillon, SC, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 161.3 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 45 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.3 miles or 1h 51m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head Island, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dillon, 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 Dillon, SC
This is one driving day of about 204.7 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Dillon, 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 161.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.3 miles from Dillon, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 161.3 miles.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 199.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
SC 34 / East Main Street
Turn left onto SC 34 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
164.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
4
199.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 45m in
|
US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.01 one way
$64.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $35.00 | $70.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $37.89 | $75.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.20 | $90.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.4 | 0 | $21.49 | $9.83 |
| Efficient EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.91 | $8.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.9 | 1 | $28.66 | $13.10 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Late night in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Holly Hill, SC
102 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
32 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
3h 56m 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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 197.6
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 91.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by a heavy reliance on I-95, which accounts for 83% of your total travel time. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 161.3 miles on the interstate, so be prepared for a consistent pace behind the wheel. Once you exit the highway system, the character of the drive shifts significantly as you transition onto Coosaw Scenic Drive and Fording Island Road. While the interstate portion is utilitarian and efficient, the final miles offer a change of scenery as you navigate toward the coast. Overall, it is a high-speed transit route that settles into a more relaxed local pace only as you reach the final leg of your journey.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 161.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 34 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 204.7 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (SC 34 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 204.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 161.3 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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: near the start (SC 34 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Hilton Head Island, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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