Traveling from Hanahan to Bluffton is a straightforward 95.8-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Savannah Highway, Ace Basin Parkway, and Okatie Highway. Budgeting approximately $15 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since both locations are within the Southeast region of South Carolina, the transition between these two areas feels familiar and consistent. Whether you are heading south for a quick visit or a change of scenery, the route is efficient and easy to manage.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.9 miles from Hanahan, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Savannah Highway
20.1 mi
26m
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi
22m
Okatie Highway
12.3 mi
14m
Trask Parkway
12 mi
14m
Fording Island Road
5.8 mi
6m
Mark Clark Expressway
5.6 mi
7m
Charleston Highway
5.6 mi
7m
Robert Smalls Parkway
3.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 20.1 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hanahan, SC and Bluffton, SC.
1
Start on S-10-405
0.4 mi·1 min·Murray Drive
2
Turn slight left onto US 52; US 78
1.8 mi·2 min·Rivers Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
4
Merge onto I 526
5.6 mi·7 min·Mark Clark Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 11BToward SC 461 NorthUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto SC 461
0.3 mi·31 sec·Paul Cantrell Boulevard
7
Continue on SC 461
2.1 mi·3 min·Glen McConnell Parkway
8
Continue on SC 461
0.3 mi·32 sec·Glenn McConnell Parkway
9
At end of road, turn left onto S-10-57
2.8 mi·4 min·Bees Ferry Road
10
Turn right onto US 17
20 mi·26 min·Savannah Highway
11
Continue on US 17
17 mi·22 min·Ace Basin Parkway
12
Continue on US 17
5.6 mi·7 min·Charleston Highway
Use the left lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
14
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
207 ft·2 sec·Trask Parkway
15
Continue on Trask Parkway
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
16
Turn right onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
17
Turn slight right onto SC 170
3.5 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi·1 min·Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
19
Continue on SC 170
12 mi·14 min·Okatie Highway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
21
Merge onto US 278
5.8 mi·6 min·Fording Island Road
22
Turn right onto SC 46
0.8 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
23
Enter roundabout onto SC 46
170 ft·3 sec·Bluffton Road
24
Continue on SC 46
0.9 mi·1 min·Bluffton Road
25
Turn left onto Bruin Road
87 ft·2 sec·Bruin Road
26
Arrive at destination
Bruin Road
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 2-hour drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a smart move. You don't need to worry about complex refueling strategies, as the $15 fuel estimate makes it easy to fill up before you leave Hanahan and arrive in Bluffton with plenty of range. Given that there are zero mandatory stops built into this route, you can easily pace the drive based on your personal comfort. One concrete tip for this specific transit is to prepare for the transition between the different highway designations, as the road character shifts notably between the Savannah Highway and the Okatie Highway. Keep your navigation handy to ensure you catch the turns onto the Ace Basin Parkway smoothly.
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 47.9 miles from Hanahan, SC, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.1 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.9 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bluffton, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hanahan, 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 Hanahan, SC
This is one driving day of about 95.8 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Hanahan, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Savannah Highway for about 20.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 95.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
2.5 mi into trip|~4m in|I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge onto I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining
7
8.2 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward SC 461 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11B
Toward SC 461 North
5
57.3 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|Trask Parkway
Enter roundabout onto Trask Parkway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
94.9 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Enter roundabout onto SC 46 / Bluffton Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
95.8 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|Bruin Road
Turn left onto Bruin Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.98 one way
$29.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.38
$32.76
premium
$4.70
$17.73
$35.46
diesel
$5.61
$21.15
$42.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.06
$4.60
Efficient EV
24
0
$8.38
$3.83
EV Truck/SUV
38.3
0
$13.41
$6.13
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Hanahan, SC
Morning
in Hanahan on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bluffton, SC
Morning
in Bluffton on Tuesday
Local time
8:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 5m 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 69.4
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with local connectivity. With a highway share of 43%, you will spend less than half of your time on major arterial roads. The longest uninterrupted segment you will encounter is a 20.1-mile stretch on Savannah Highway, which provides a steady rhythm before the road transitions into different road types. As you move through the Ace Basin Parkway and onto the Okatie Highway, the pace shifts, requiring you to stay alert to changing road environments. This blend of driving conditions keeps the trip engaging without becoming an exhausting interstate grind.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.1 mi on Savannah Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 95.8 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: at 2.5 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.3 miles (Trask Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Bluffton is a fast-growing coastal city in the Low Country of South Carolina located 7 miles (12 km) west of the major southeastern United States resort town of Hilton Head Island.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 95.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.1 miles on Savannah Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Bluffton, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 526 / Mark Clark Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.3 miles (Trask Parkway): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 Bluffton, SC before heading back.
