Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Late night in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head Island, SC to Port Royal, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
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
Port Royal, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Hilton Head Island to Port Royal, expect a straightforward 37.8-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, as it is short enough that you will not need an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, and Okatie Highway as you transition through the Southeast region of South Carolina. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical excursion. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a simple, efficient connection between these two coastal South Carolina points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Fording Island Road | 9 mi | 13m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Savannah Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Parris Island Gateway | 1.2 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 Port Royal, 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
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
12
Turn right onto SC 128
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Savannah Highway
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 21
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Parris Island Gateway
14
Continue on US 21
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Russell Bell Bridge
15
Continue on US 21
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ribaut Road
16
Turn right onto Paris Avenue
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Paris Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Paris Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.9 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 37.4 — 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
5
18.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
34.6 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 21 / Parris Island Gateway
At end of road, turn right onto US 21 / Parris Island Gateway
Navigation decision point
4
37.4 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Paris Avenue
Turn right onto Paris Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.91 one way
$11.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.46 | $12.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.00 | $13.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Port Royal, SC
Late night in Port Royal on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
23 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
52m 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. You will spend only about 17% of your time on highways, meaning the majority of your trip consists of local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 12.2-mile segment along Okatie Highway, which provides a brief reprieve from the more frequent turns. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, the drive feels practical and grounded. You should be prepared for frequent adjustments behind the wheel as you navigate the transition from the island environment toward Port Royal.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 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
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 37.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
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.
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 Port Royal, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Port Royal, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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