Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Morning in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Beaufort, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
54m
Distance
40 mi
64 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Beaufort, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Hilton Head Island to Beaufort, you are in for a quick 40-mile journey that typically takes about 54 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you do not need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making this an incredibly economical excursion through the Southeast. You will primarily navigate via Okatie Highway, Fording Island Road, and Robert Smalls Parkway. Because the transit is so efficient, it serves as an excellent way to connect these two distinct South Carolina coastal destinations without the stress of a long-haul drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Fording Island Road | 9 mi | 13m |
| Robert Smalls Parkway | 5.2 mi | 6m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Boundary Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Okatie Highway
— 12.2 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Beaufort, SC.
1
Start on Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Allen Road
2
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
4
Merge onto US 278
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
5
Merge onto US 278
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
6
Continue on US 278
9.0 mi
·
13 min
·
Fording Island Road
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
8
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft
·
4 sec
9
Merge onto SC 170
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Okatie Highway
10
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
11
Continue on SC 170
5.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
12
Turn right onto US 21
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Boundary Street
13
Continue on US 21 Business
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Carteret Street
14
Turn left onto Port Republic Street
39 ft
·
1 sec
·
Port Republic Street
15
Arrive at destination
Port Republic Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 18.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Marshland Road
Turn left onto Marshland Road
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Merge onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining
3
5.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 278 / William Hilton Parkway
Merge onto US 278 / William Hilton Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
18.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.26 one way
$12.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.84 | $13.68 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.40 | $14.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Beaufort, SC
Morning in Beaufort on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
3 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
54m 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 drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 29% of your time spent on highways, the experience feels much more grounded in the local landscape. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.2 miles while traveling along the Okatie Highway, which provides a brief reprieve from the frequent navigation changes. As you transition between the main roads, the character of the drive shifts from busy island corridors to the more steady flow of the parkways. It is a practical, functional road experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography throughout the entire 54-minute duration.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.2 mi on Okatie Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Marshland Road.
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 40 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.2 miles (Marshland Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 278 / Cross Island Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
24 ft
-5 ft
Total Climb
41 ft
Total Descent
49 ft
Highest Point
24 ft
~17.1 mi in
Elevation Range
28 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 40 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.2 miles on Okatie Highway. 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: at 0.2 miles (Marshland Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (US 278 / Cross Island Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Beaufort, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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