Rest Area
0 mi from route
Trip from Gaffney, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
253.2 mi
407 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 10m
8 AM
5h 37m
10 AM
5h 19m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 20m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gaffney, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Gaffney, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is 253.2 miles and takes about 5h 9m via I 26 and I 95, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within South Carolina, connecting the Southeast region. Expect a primarily highway drive that's straightforward and efficient for a single-day trip. It's a good option if you're looking to get to the coast without extensive planning, as it's designed to be completed within a typical travel day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
126.6 miles from Gaffney, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 26 | 96.4 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 95 | 56.6 mi | 1h |
| Whitmire Highway | 15.2 mi | 17m |
| Union Highway | 12.6 mi | 18m |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Watson Street | 7.4 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 96.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 78 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~2,144 veh/hr typical · worst 2,789
Quietest
2 AM
~213 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gaffney, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on SC 150
111 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Limestone Street
2
Turn right onto East Buford Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Buford Street
3
Turn right onto SC 18
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
East Frederick Street
4
Continue on SC 18
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Union Highway
5
Continue on SC 18
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Gaffney Highway
6
Continue on SC 18
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pacolet Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto SC 9; SC 18
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Main Street
8
Continue on SC 9; SC 18
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Jonesville Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 9; SC 18
141 ft
·
1 sec
·
Jonesville Highway
10
Continue on SC 18
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Jonesville Highway
11
Continue on SC 18
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Thompson Boulevard
12
Continue on SC 18
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
North Pinckney Street
13
Continue on US 176
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Whitmire Highway
14
Turn slight left onto US 176; SC 121
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Watson Street
Use the slight left lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto SC 121
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 121
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
17
Merge onto I 26
36 mi
·
40 min
·
I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
60 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 26
Toward Charleston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 169A
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
20
Merge onto I 95
57 mi
·
1 hr
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
22
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
23
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
24
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
26
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
27
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
28
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
30
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
31
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
32
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet for a smooth arrival on Hilton Head Island. Since it's a single-day trip with just one recommended stop, you can be flexible with your timing. The estimated fuel cost is $38, so factor that into your budget. Keep in mind the longest stretch is over 96 miles on I 26, so plan for a rest break before or shortly after that segment if needed.
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 126.6 miles from Gaffney, SC, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.4 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 56 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.6 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
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 Gaffney, 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 Gaffney, SC
This is one driving day of about 253.2 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Gaffney, 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 26 for about 96.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
127 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.6 miles from Gaffney, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 26 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Interstate 26 East Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Interstate 26 West Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 19.3 and 156.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
SC 9; SC 18 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto SC 9; SC 18 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
95 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Charleston
5
155.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m 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
156.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m 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
$40.22 one way
$80.45 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
89 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $43.86 | $87.72 |
| premium | $4.78 | $47.65 | $95.30 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $61.60 | $123.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76 | 0 | $26.59 | $12.15 |
| Efficient EV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.16 | $10.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101.3 | 1 | $35.45 | $16.20 |
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Gaffney, SC
Morning in Gaffney on Monday
Local time
7:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
NNE 7 to 12 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 3:00AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:14AM EDT until October 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Morning in Hilton Head Island on Monday
Local time
7:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Sunny
N 14 to 20 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued October 18 at 3:00AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 18 at 2:14AM EDT until October 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
71°F
Rock Hill, SC
127 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
7 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
5h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Cowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
Caution: Hazardous Conditions on Trails
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 122.2
View on nps.gov
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 244.4
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 mostly highway, with 65% of the route on major interstates. You'll encounter your longest stretch on I 26, covering 96.4 miles. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the trip as you approach your destination. Be prepared for frequent exits and merges as you navigate the interstate system for the majority of your travel time.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 96.4 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.3 miles in near SC 9; SC 18 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 253.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles (SC 9; SC 18 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.8 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
782 ft
11 ft
Total Climb
191 ft
Total Descent
962 ft
Highest Point
782 ft
Elevation Range
771 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Gaffney, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Charleston along the way.
Charleston
95 mi in
|
~2h 2m
|
via I 26
About the Cities
Starting in Gaffney, SC
Full guide →Founded 1804
Top landmarks
- • Gaffney Residential Historic District — historic district in South Carolina, United States
- • Limestone Springs Historic District — historic district in South Carolina, United States
Arriving in Hilton Head Island, 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.
Top landmarks
- • Cherry Hill School — historic school for African-American students located at Hilton Head Island, Bea...
- • St. Luke's Parish Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery — historic site in Beaufort County, South Carolina, US
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 5h 9m. Total distance: 253.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 96.4 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hilton Head Island, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.3 miles (SC 9; SC 18 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 58.8 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95 miles (I 26): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Cowpens National Battlefield, Congaree National Park and Reconstruction Era National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hilton Head Island, SC before the return drive.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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