Origin
Hardeeville, SC
Morning in Hardeeville on Sunday
Local time
10:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hardeeville, 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
40m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hardeeville, SC
Colon Freld
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hardeeville, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is 28.5 miles and takes about 40m via Fording Island Road and William Hilton Parkway, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically South Carolina, connecting two familiar locations. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns rather than a straight shot, making it more of a navigational exercise than a long-haul journey. It's a straightforward trip perfect for a quick transition or an easy day's travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fording Island Road | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| Independence Boulevard | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
| Whyte Hardee Boulevard | 2 mi | 2m |
| Allen Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fording Island Road
— 10.9 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hardeeville, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on SC 46
122 ft
·
4 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 17
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Whyte Hardee Boulevard
3
Turn right onto US 278
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Independence Boulevard
4
Continue on US 278
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Fording Island Road
5
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
8
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
9
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
10
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard
Turn right onto US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 278 / Independence Boulevard
Turn right onto US 278 / Independence Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
23.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
25.6 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
26 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
Marshland Road
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.46 one way
$8.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.87 | $9.75 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.27 | $10.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Morning in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
10:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
27 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
40m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 22% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles along Fording Island Road. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction as you navigate local roadways. The drive progresses through a mix of surfaces, transitioning from more open roads to potentially more built-up areas as you approach your destination.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on Fording Island Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard.
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 40m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 278 / Independence Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 23.2 miles (US 278 / Cross Island Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on Fording Island Road. 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: near the start (US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (US 278 / Independence Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 23.2 miles (US 278 / Cross Island Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Island, 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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