Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Late night in Hilton Head on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hilton Head, SC to Bluffton, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
8.3 mi
13 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Bluffton, SC
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
Traveling from Hilton Head to Bluffton is a quick, 8.3-mile trip that typically takes about 13 minutes to complete. Because this journey is so brief, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will spend roughly half your time on highways, navigating along William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, and Burnt Church Road. With a fuel cost estimate of just $1, the route is extremely budget-friendly for any traveler. Both locations sit within the Southeast region of South Carolina, making this a seamless transition between two local communities. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a short visit, the simplicity of this drive allows for total flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Hilton Parkway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Fording Island Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Burnt Church Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Bruin Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
William Hilton Parkway
— 4.1 mi, about 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head, SC and Bluffton, SC.
1
Start on US 278
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
William Hilton Parkway
2
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
3
Continue on US 278
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Fording Island Road
4
Turn left onto Burnt Church Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Burnt Church Road
5
Turn right onto Bruin Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Bruin Road
6
Arrive at destination
Bruin Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 7.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
6.6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
Burnt Church Road
Turn left onto Burnt Church Road
Navigation decision point
3
7.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
Bruin Road
Turn right onto Bruin Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.30 one way
$2.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.42 | $2.84 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.54 | $3.07 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.83 | $3.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.5 | 0 | $0.87 | $0.40 |
| Efficient EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.73 | $0.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.16 | $0.53 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Bluffton, SC
Late night in Bluffton on Sunday
Local time
3:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
25 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
13m 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 transition from the coastal environment of Hilton Head toward the mainland. The route balances 49% highway travel with local roads, providing a change of pace within a very short distance. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on William Hilton Parkway, covering 4.1 miles of the total journey. As you progress through the drive, the road character shifts from the primary corridor onto Fording Island Road and finally Burnt Church Road. You will find that the road surface and traffic patterns remain consistent, offering a straightforward experience behind the wheel that avoids the monotony of long-haul interstate travel.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
6 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.1 mi on William Hilton Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near Burnt Church Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Bluffton, SC is easy. At 13m with 49% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles (Burnt Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (Bruin Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 8.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.1 miles on William Hilton Parkway. 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 6.6 miles (Burnt Church Road): Navigation decision point; at 7.8 miles (Bruin Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bluffton, 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
Continue From Bluffton, SC
More trips to Bluffton, SC
Explore more options from Hilton Head, SC or browse trips ending in Bluffton, SC.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse SC road trips.