This 266.9-mile journey from Hilton Head Island, SC to Landrum, SC will take approximately 5 hours and 6 minutes of driving time. It's a feasible day trip, though you could certainly break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 86% of the drive on major interstates. Expect a fuel cost of around $42 for this trip. Since both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout your drive, primarily traversing South Carolina.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
133.4 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 26
167.2 mi
3h 1m
I 95
57.2 mi
1h 1m
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
Cross Island Parkway
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 26
— 167.2 mi, about 3h 1m
Traffic on I-26
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,846 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,341
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Landrum, 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
57 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 95; US 17
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 26 West: Columbia
16
Merge onto I 26
117 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 26
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26
51 mi·54 min·I 26
Toward SpartanburgUse the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward SC 14: Landrum
19
Turn left onto SC 14
0.2 mi·20 sec·Landrum Road
20
Continue on SC 14
1.9 mi·4 min·East Rutherford Street
21
Turn right onto US 176
70 ft·1 sec·North Howard Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
US 176
Trip Plan
With a 5-hour and 6-minute estimated drive time, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip. Aim to depart early in the morning to make the most of daylight hours and allow for a comfortable arrival. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 167.2 miles on I 26, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or during this segment. Given the predominantly highway nature of the drive, be mindful of traffic, especially around urban areas. Your estimated fuel cost is $42, so factor that into your budget before you set off.
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 133.4 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 167.2 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 59 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.4 miles or 2h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Landrum, 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 266.9 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 26 for about 167.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 264.8 — 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
5
97.4 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|I 26
Merge onto I 26
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
214 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|I 26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 26 toward Spartanburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Spartanburg
5
264.8 mi into trip|~5h 1m in|SC 14 / Landrum Road
Turn left onto SC 14 / Landrum Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.45 one way
$84.90 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$46.29
$92.57
premium
$4.78
$50.22
$100.43
diesel
$5.35
$56.22
$112.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.1
0
$28.02
$12.81
Efficient EV
66.7
0
$23.35
$10.68
EV Truck/SUV
106.8
1
$37.37
$17.08
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Afternoon
in Hilton Head Island on Wednesday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 3 mph35% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Landrum, SC
Afternoon
in Landrum on Wednesday
Local time
3:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
WSW 1 mph19% chanceLive forecast
64°F
Forest Acres, SC
133 mi in
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
11 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Congaree National Park
National Park
Astonishing biodiversity exists in Congaree National Park, the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 128.8
The Reconstruction era,1861-1900 the historic period in which the United States grappled with the question of how to integrate millions of newly freed African Americans into social, political, economi...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 9.2
A pasturing area at the time of the battle, this Revolutionary War site commemorates the place where Daniel Morgan and his army turned the flanks of Banastre Tarleton's British army. This classic mili...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 257.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 266.9-mile route, with 86% of your travel on interstates. You'll encounter an 167.2-mile stretch on I 26, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The main roads include I 95 and I 26, which means you'll experience mostly high-speed driving with limited opportunities for scenic detours. While this profile suggests a straightforward drive, keep an eye out for the turn onto Coosaw Scenic Drive for a brief change of scenery before rejoining the main highways.
86% 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: 167.2 mi on I 26.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 26 and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 266.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 97.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,046 ft11 ft
Total Climb
1,087 ft
Total Descent
53 ft
Highest Point
1,046 ft
~266.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,034 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hilton Head Island, SC to Landrum, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Spartanburg along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Cherry Hill School — historic school for African-American students located at Hilton Head Island, Bea...
•St. Luke's Parish Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery — historic site in Beaufort County, South Carolina, US
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 266.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 167.2 miles on I 26. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Landrum, 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. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97.4 miles (I 26): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Congaree National Park, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Cowpens National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Landrum, SC before the return drive.
