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 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Hilton Parkway
—
—
Fording Island Road
—
—
Okatie Highway
—
—
Lowcountry Drive
—
—
Coosaw Scenic Drive
—
—
I 95 North
—
—
US 521
—
—
US 521 North
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
William Hilton Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head, SC and Dalzell, SC.
1
Start on William Hilton Parkway
0.3 mi·29 sec·William Hilton Parkway
2
Continue on William Hilton Parkway
3.8 mi·4 min·William Hilton Parkway
3
Continue on Fording Island Road
9.0 mi·13 min·Fording Island Road
4
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi·40 sec
5
Keep slight right
148 ft·4 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway
3.9 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
7
Take the exit slight left
489 ft·14 sec
8
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
9
Continue on Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.4 mi·12 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
0.3 mi·35 sec·I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
11
Merge slight left
93 mi·1 hr 39 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 521: Alcolu, Sumter
13
Keep slight left to continue on US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
289 ft·7 sec·US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter
14
Turn left
12 mi·14 min
15
Turn left onto South Guignard Parkway
1.1 mi·1 min·South Guignard Parkway
16
Continue on South Guignard Drive
3.6 mi·4 min·South Guignard Drive
17
Continue on Bultman Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·Bultman Drive
18
Turn left onto Broad Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Broad Street
19
Turn slight right onto Camden Highway
1.9 mi·2 min·Camden Highway
20
Continue on Thomas Sumter Highway
3.4 mi·3 min·Thomas Sumter Highway
21
Turn right onto Frierson Road
0.4 mi·34 sec·Frierson Road
22
At the end of the road, turn right onto Camden Highway
0.5 mi·1 min·Camden Highway
23
Arrive at your destination
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 29m into the drive.
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 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.6 miles or 1h 29m 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 26m
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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.96 one way
$47.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.19
$52.39
premium
$4.70
$28.35
$56.71
diesel
$5.61
$33.82
$67.65
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, 2026-04-13.
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
$13.40
$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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Late night
in Hilton Head on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dalzell, SC
Late night
in Dalzell on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
33 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
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.
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.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: William Hilton Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hilton Head, SC to Dalzell, SC is easy. At 2h 59m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head, SC to Dalzell, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hilton Head, SC to Dalzell, SC is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dalzell, SC before heading back.
