Hilton Head Island, SC to Sullivans Island, SC is 111.3 miles and takes about 2h 35m via US 17, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, connecting two points in the Southeast region. The route primarily utilizes US 17, offering a relatively straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day duration and a modest fuel cost, this is an accessible option for a quick coastal hop. You can expect a straightforward drive with minimal complications.
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
55.7 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
55.6 mi
1h 17m
Okatie Highway
12.2 mi
13m
Trask Parkway
11.6 mi
14m
Fording Island Road
9 mi
13m
William Hilton Parkway
3.9 mi
4m
Robert Smalls Parkway
3.5 mi
3m
Ben Sawyer Boulevard
2.6 mi
4m
Cross Island Parkway
2.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 55.6 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island, SC and Sullivans Island, 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
3.5 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
12
Turn slight left onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto US 17
53 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto US 17
0.2 mi·28 sec·Septima P. Clark Parkway
17
Continue on US 17
0.5 mi·1 min·Crosstown
18
Continue on US 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Septima Clark Expressway
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
2.6 mi·3 min·US 17
Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, GeorgetownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward SC 703: Coleman Boulevard, Sullivans IslandUse the slight right lane.
21
Continue on SC 703
2.2 mi·4 min·West Coleman Boulevard
22
Continue on SC 703
2.6 mi·4 min·Ben Sawyer Boulevard
23
Continue on SC 703
0.2 mi·18 sec·Station 22 1/2 Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
25
Turn right
36 ft·2 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 35m duration, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to avoid the peak rush hour in either location and still arrive with plenty of daylight. The drive is manageable in one day, and you'll only encounter one planned stop according to the data. Keep an eye on fuel; while the estimated cost is $17, it’s always wise to top off before leaving Hilton Head Island, especially since the longest stretch without a likely fuel stop is over 55 miles on US 17.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.7 miles from Hilton Head Island, SC, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.6 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 24 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.7 miles or 1h 14m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sullivans Island, 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 111.3 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 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 US 17 for about 55.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.2 and 111.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.2 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
48.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 17
Merge onto US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
103.2 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|US 17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17 toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, Georgetown
7
105.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward SC 703: Coleman Boulevard, Sullivans Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward SC 703: Coleman Boulevard, Sullivans Isl...
5
111.3 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.40 one way
$34.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.03
$38.06
premium
$4.70
$20.60
$41.20
diesel
$5.61
$24.57
$49.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
Efficient EV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
EV Truck/SUV
44.5
0
$15.58
$7.12
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Hilton Head Island, SC
Morning
in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
7:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sullivans Island, SC
Morning
in Sullivans Island on Sunday
Local time
7:35 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
2h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 34.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 70% of the 111.3 miles on higher-speed roads like US 17. You'll experience a longest stretch of 55.6 miles on US 17 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate through developed areas and towns along the way. The profile suggests a consistent pace for most of the trip, with a shift in driving feel as you leave the main highway.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.6 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Okatie Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 111.3 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 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 48.9 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.2 miles (US 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Sullivans Island, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Georgetown along the way.
Georgetown
103.2 mi in|~2h 21m|via US 17
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 111.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.6 miles on US 17. 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 Sullivans Island, 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 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 48.9 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 103.2 miles (US 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park and 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 Sullivans Island, SC before heading back.
