Traveling from the coast to the interior of South Carolina covers 153.2 miles and takes approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes of drive time. Because this route stays entirely within the Southeast region, you won't experience drastic climate shifts, but you will transition from the barrier island environment to the more rural landscape of Dalzell. A single day is perfectly sufficient to complete this journey, making an overnight stay unnecessary unless your schedule requires it. You should budget about $25 for fuel to cover the trip. It is a straightforward trek that works well for travelers looking to move between the coast and the midlands without the complexities of a multi-day expedition.
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
76.6 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
93.1 mi
1h 39m
US 521
12.4 mi
14m
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.4 mi
12m
Fording Island Road
9 mi
13m
Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
10m
William Hilton Parkway
4.1 mi
4m
Okatie Highway
3.9 mi
4m
South Guignard Drive
3.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 93.1 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~1,558 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,252
Quietest
2 AM
~228 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
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, SC and Dalzell, 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
9.0 mi·13 min·Fording Island Road
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
5
Keep slight right at fork
147 ft·4 sec
6
Merge onto SC 170
3.9 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
7
Take the exit
488 ft·13 sec
8
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
9
Continue on SC 462
9.4 mi·12 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
11
Merge onto I 95; US 17
93 mi·1 hr 39 min·I 95; US 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
13
Keep slight left at fork
289 ft·7 sec
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
14
Turn left onto US 521
12 mi·14 min·US 521
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto US 521
1.1 mi·1 min·South Guignard Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 521
3.6 mi·4 min·South Guignard Drive
17
Continue on US 521
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto US 521; US 76 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street
Use the left lane.
19
Turn slight right onto US 521
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
20
Continue on US 521
3.4 mi·3 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
21
Turn right onto Frierson Road
0.4 mi·34 sec·Frierson Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto Camden Highway
0.5 mi·1 min·Camden Highway
23
Arrive at destination
Camden Highway
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid local congestion. Plan for one designated stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy nature of the drive. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Hilton Head, as the $25 estimate assumes consistent driving conditions. Because you are navigating local roads rather than major arteries, utilize a reliable GPS to assist with the frequent turns throughout the 153.2-mile journey. Staying mindful of your speed through these local corridors will ensure a smooth and predictable arrival in Dalzell.
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 76.6 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.1 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 34 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.6 miles or 1h 32m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalzell, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hilton Head, 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, SC
This is one driving day of about 153.2 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Hilton Head, 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 95 for about 93.1 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 140.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.3 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
34.9 mi into trip|~47m in|I 95; US 17
Merge onto I 95; US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
128 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
6
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
5
140.8 mi into trip|~2h 42m in|US 521 / South Guignard Parkway
Turn left onto US 521 / South Guignard Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.37 one way
$48.73 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$26.57
$53.14
premium
$4.78
$28.82
$57.65
diesel
$5.35
$32.27
$64.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.35
Efficient EV
38.3
0
$13.41
$6.13
EV Truck/SUV
61.3
0
$21.45
$9.80
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Evening
in Hilton Head on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 6 to 10 mph46% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dalzell, SC
Evening
in Dalzell on Wednesday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph54% chanceLive forecast
90°F
Brookdale, SC
77 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
22 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 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 142.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will spend your time navigating through local thoroughfares like William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, and Okatie Highway. Since there is no highway share on this route, your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and the frequent turns required to navigate off the island. This creates a more involved driving experience compared to a monotonous highway slog. Stay alert, as the lack of long, uninterrupted stretches means you will remain actively engaged behind the wheel for the duration of the three-hour trip.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.1 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 521. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 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 13 significant decision points across 153.2 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.9 miles (I 95; US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
219 ft12 ft
Total Climb
289 ft
Total Descent
82 ft
Highest Point
219 ft
~153.2 mi in
Elevation Range
207 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, SC to Dalzell, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Sumter 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 2h 59m. Total distance: 153.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.1 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 Dalzell, 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.9 miles (I 95; US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National 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 Dalzell, SC before heading back.
