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 Ridgeland, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
39.1 mi
63 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
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
Ridgeland, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Hilton Head Island to Ridgeland, you are looking at a straightforward 39.1-mile journey that typically takes about 51 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you do not need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an economical way to navigate between these two South Carolina locations. The drive transitions you through the Southeast region, moving from the coast toward the inland area. Because the trip is short and efficient, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery. You will find this to be a practical, no-nonsense transit that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 11.9 mi | 12m |
| Fording Island Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Independence Boulevard | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Marshland Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| East Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Allen Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 11.9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Ridgeland, 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
6.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Independence Boulevard
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 95 North: Florence
9
Merge onto I 95
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 95
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward SC 336: Ridgeland
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto SC 336
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
12
Turn right onto US 17; US 278
22 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Jacob Smart Boulevard
13
Arrive at destination
US 17; US 278
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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 38.2 — 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
4
25.9 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Florence
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 North: Florence
6
38.2 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward SC 336: Ridgeland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward SC 336: Ridgeland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.11 one way
$12.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.69 | $13.37 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.24 | $14.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.63 | $17.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 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 | 11.7 | 0 | $4.11 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.42 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.47 | $2.50 |
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
Ridgeland, SC
Late night in Ridgeland on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
29 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
51m 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 mixed driving experience as you navigate this 39.1-mile path, which relies on a combination of Fording Island Road, Independence Boulevard, and I-95. Roughly 46% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on the highway, providing a balance between local transit and faster interstate travel. You can anticipate a fairly consistent pace throughout the drive, with the longest uninterrupted stretch occurring on I-95 for 11.9 miles. The road’s personality shifts from the local arteries of the island and surrounding areas to the more structured environment of the interstate. It is a functional drive that trades scenic complexity for direct, steady progress toward your destination in Ridgeland.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.9 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 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 39.1 miles you will encounter 8 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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 39.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (46%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.9 miles on I 95. 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 Ridgeland, 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.
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