Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Late night in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Hardeeville, 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
28.3 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 42m
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.
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hardeeville, SC
Colon Freld
Trip Overview
Traveling from Hilton Head Island to Hardeeville is a straightforward 28.3-mile trip that typically takes about 40 minutes to complete. Because of the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, and Independence Boulevard to make your way off the island and into the mainland. Budgeting around $5 for fuel should be more than enough to cover the distance, making this a very cost-effective commute. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region of South Carolina, you will experience a consistent coastal atmosphere throughout the journey. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from the island to the mainland quickly and efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fording Island Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Independence Boulevard | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Whyte Hardee Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| Allen Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fording Island Road
— 10.9 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Hardeeville, 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
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Fording Island Road
7
Continue on US 278
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Independence Boulevard
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 17
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Whyte Hardee Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto SC 46
122 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
10
Arrive at destination
SC 46
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 26.3 — 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
7
26.3 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 / Whyte Hardee Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.43 one way
$8.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.84 | $9.68 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.24 | $10.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.25 | $12.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 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 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
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
Hardeeville, SC
Late night in Hardeeville on Sunday
Local time
12:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°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 cooler 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition off the island. While roughly 22% of this trip involves highway driving, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch during a 10.9-mile segment on Fording Island Road, which offers the most consistent pace of the drive. The personality of this route shifts from the coastal corridors of Hilton Head toward the more industrial or transit-oriented environment of Hardeeville. Be prepared for frequent turns as you maneuver through these specific local thoroughfares, as the road layout is designed more for regional connectivity than high-speed cruising.
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?
3/10
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 around 0.2 miles in near Marshland Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
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: 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 28.3 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.
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: 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. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hardeeville, 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
Return Trip
Hardeeville, SC to Hilton Head Island, SCPlan the drive back the other way.
28.5 mi
40m
Continue From Hardeeville, SC
More trips to Hardeeville, SC
Explore more options from Hilton Head Island, SC or browse trips ending in Hardeeville, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.