Hilton Head, SC to Lake City, SC is 162.1 miles and takes about 3h 10m via I 95 and Turbeville Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, connecting the coastal Southeast to the interior. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major highways, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. You can expect a fairly direct path with minimal complexity, ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B.
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
81 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
106.4 mi
1h 54m
Turbeville Highway
12.9 mi
16m
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
Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 106.4 mi, about 1h 54m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 48 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
1 PM
~1,540 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~227 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Lake City, 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
106 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 95; US 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward US 378: Turbeville, Sumter
13
Keep slight right at fork
288 ft·7 sec
Toward US 378 East: Turbeville, Lake City, Myrtle Beach
14
Merge onto US 378
0.9 mi·1 min·Myrtle Beach Highway
15
Continue on US 378
3.5 mi·4 min·Clarence Coker Highway
16
Continue on US 301; US 378
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
17
Continue on US 301; US 378
13 mi·16 min·Turbeville Highway
18
Turn right onto US 378 Business; SC 341
2.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
19
Turn right onto South Acline Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Acline Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
South Acline Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 10m duration, leaving Hilton Head in the morning will comfortably get you to Lake City the same day. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $25, this trip is budget-friendly and doesn't require extensive planning. The longest stretch on I 95 is over 100 miles, so plan for a fuel and stretch break before or during that segment. Since it's a single-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 81 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.4 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 36 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81 miles or 1h 37m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake City, 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 162.1 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 106.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 141.6 — 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
4
34.7 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
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
141.4 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward US 378: Turbeville, Sumter
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 378: Turbeville, Sumter
7
141.6 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 378 East: Turbeville, Lake City, Myrtle Beach
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 378 East: Turbeville, Lake City, Myrt...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.84 one way
$49.68 round trip
$3.89/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.27
$27.26
$54.51
premium
$4.64
$29.59
$59.19
diesel
$5.60
$35.73
$71.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.6
0
$17.02
$7.78
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.18
$6.48
EV Truck/SUV
64.8
0
$22.69
$10.37
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Hilton Head, SC
Late night
in Hilton Head on Wednesday
Local time
3:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
E 9 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:17PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Lake City, SC
Late night
in Lake City on Wednesday
Local time
3:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 1 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 2:17PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 10m 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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 111.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 68% of the 162.1 miles on major roads like I 95. You'll experience a solid 106.4-mile stretch on I 95 before transitioning to Turbeville Highway and then Coosaw Scenic Drive. Expect a shift from the consistent speed of the interstate to more local road cruising as you approach your destination. The interstate portion means plenty of exits and services, while the latter part will feel more rural.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106.4 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Turbeville Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 162.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.9 miles (I 95; US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
128 ft12 ft
Total Climb
147 ft
Total Descent
83 ft
Highest Point
128 ft
~115.8 mi in
Elevation Range
116 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hilton Head, SC and Lake City, SC, road signs point toward Sumter and Myrtle Beach.
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 3h 10m. Total distance: 162.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 106.4 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Lake City, 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 13.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 34.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.9 miles (I 95; US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Congaree National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Lake City, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
