Origin
Hardeeville, SC
Morning in Hardeeville on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hardeeville, 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
29m
Distance
22.8 mi
37 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
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, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the mainland to the coast, the 22.8-mile journey from Hardeeville to Hilton Head is an ideal day trip. Spanning just 29 minutes, this route keeps you within the Southeast region, making it an effortless transition between these two South Carolina locales. You will primarily navigate via Fording Island Road, Independence Boulevard, and William Hilton Parkway. Budgeting around $4 for fuel makes this an exceptionally affordable excursion for any traveler. Since the drive is short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay, offering you maximum flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fording Island Road | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| Independence Boulevard | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Whyte Hardee Boulevard | 2 mi | 2m |
| 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, 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
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
6
Arrive at destination
US 278
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 2 — 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.57 one way
$7.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.90 | $7.80 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.22 | $8.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.03 | $10.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.39 | $1.09 |
| Efficient EV | 5.7 | 0 | $1.99 | $0.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.19 | $1.46 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Morning in Hilton Head on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°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
21 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
29m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that shifts away from highway monotony. Only 15% of your total mileage is spent on highways, meaning you will spend most of your time navigating local surface streets. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 10.9 miles along Fording Island Road, which serves as the primary artery for your trip. Because this is not a high-speed interstate haul, you should anticipate a more deliberate pace as you transition into the coastal environment. Stay alert at the wheel, as the frequent turns and local traffic patterns define the character of this 29-minute commute.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
6 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?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hardeeville, SC to Hilton Head, SC is easy. At 29m with 15% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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.
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 29m. Total distance: 22.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hilton Head, SC
More trips to Hilton Head, SC
Explore more options from Hardeeville, SC or browse trips ending in Hilton Head, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.