Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Late night in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Florence, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 28m
Distance
176.8 mi
285 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 17m
★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 21m
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
Florence, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hilton Head Island, SC to Florence, SC is 176.8 miles and takes about 3h 28m via I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily travels north through South Carolina, connecting two points within the Southeast region. Given its manageable distance and duration, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the journey, making it a practical option for those prioritizing efficiency in their travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.4 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 131.5 mi | 2h 20m |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Fording Island Road | 9 mi | 13m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| Okatie Highway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| West Evans Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 131.5 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Florence, 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
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
10
Take the exit
488 ft
·
13 sec
11
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
12
Continue on SC 462
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
14
Merge onto I 95; US 17
132 mi
·
2 hr 20 min
·
I 95; US 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 20 Business East: Florence
16
Merge onto I 20 Bus
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 20 Bus
17
Turn left onto S-21-31
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West Evans Street
18
Turn right onto Warley Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Warley Street
19
Turn left onto West Cheves Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cheves Street
20
Turn right
133 ft
·
11 sec
21
Turn right
50 ft
·
3 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just under 3.5 hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to make the most of daylight. The longest stretch is 131.5 miles on I 95, so plan for your fuel stop before you embark on that segment. Since the drive is relatively short, you won't need extensive rest breaks, but a quick stop for gas or a stretch is always a good idea. Keep an eye out for the transition from scenic local roads onto the interstate as you begin your journey north.
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 88.4 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131.5 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 39 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Florence, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island, SC
This is one driving day of about 176.8 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Hilton Head Island, 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 95 for about 131.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.4 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 95 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131.5 miles.
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 175 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 176.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
18.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
39.5 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
5
39.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 95; US 17
Merge onto I 95; US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
176.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.65 one way
$55.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $30.23 | $60.46 |
| premium | $4.70 | $32.72 | $65.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.04 | $78.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.56 | $8.49 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.47 | $7.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.7 | 0 | $24.75 | $11.32 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Florence, SC
Late night in Florence on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 28m 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 largely a highway-focused drive, with 79% of it being on major highways like I 95. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 131.5 miles on I 95, offering a chance for steady progress. While the majority of your time will be spent on this fast-paced interstate, the inclusion of Coosaw Scenic Drive and Fording Island Road provides a brief departure from the main thoroughfare. This mix means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and a touch of local road scenery.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 176.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 176.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 131.5 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Florence, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Florence, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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