Traveling from Hilton Head to Myrtle Beach covers approximately 194.9 miles of South Carolina’s Southeast coastline. You should plan for about 4 hours and 1 minute of driving time, making this a very manageable single-day trip. Because the route relies on local roads like William Hilton Parkway, Fording Island Road, and Okatie Highway, it is best suited for a one-day itinerary rather than an overnight split. Budgeting roughly $31 for fuel will cover your transit costs comfortably. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, you will stay within a consistent coastal climate zone for the duration of your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
97.3 miles from Hilton Head, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 17
119.2 mi
2h 41m
Ocean Highway
17.4 mi
25m
Okatie Highway
12.2 mi
13m
Trask Parkway
11.6 mi
14m
Fording Island Road
9 mi
13m
Highway 17
7 mi
8m
William Hilton Parkway
4.1 mi
4m
Robert Smalls Parkway
3.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 17
— 119.2 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head, SC and Myrtle Beach, 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
12 mi·13 min·Okatie Highway
7
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi·1 min·Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
8
Continue on SC 170
3.5 mi·3 min·Robert Smalls Parkway
9
Turn slight left onto US 21
1.2 mi·1 min·Parris Island Gateway
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 21
12 mi·14 min·Trask Parkway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto US 17
53 mi·1 hr 14 min·US 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto US 17
0.2 mi·28 sec·Septima P. Clark Parkway
14
Continue on US 17
0.5 mi·1 min·Crosstown
15
Continue on US 17
0.6 mi·1 min·Septima Clark Expressway
16
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
9.8 mi·15 min·US 17
Toward US 17 North: Mount Pleasant, GeorgetownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 17
49 mi·1 hr 3 min·US 17
Use the left lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto US 17
445 ft·5 sec·North Fraser Street
19
Merge onto US 17
1.3 mi·2 min·Church Street
20
Continue on US 17
0.3 mi·25 sec·L. H. Siau Bridge
21
Continue on US 17
17 mi·25 min·Ocean Highway
22
Continue on US 17
3.6 mi·4 min·Highway 17
23
Take the exit onto US 17
7.1 mi·8 min·US 17
Toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle BeachUse the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 17
1.2 mi·1 min·US Highway 17 Bypass South
25
Continue on US Highway 17 Bypass South
3.4 mi·4 min·US Highway 17 Bypass South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 501 South: Downtown Myrtle Beach
27
Turn straight onto US 501
2.0 mi·3 min·US 501
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn slight right onto 8th Avenue North
248 ft·14 sec·8th Avenue North
29
Turn right onto US 17 Business
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Kings Highway
30
Turn left onto 5th Avenue North
198 ft·11 sec·5th Avenue North
31
Turn right
196 ft·14 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid the peak congestion often found on local arteries like Okatie Highway. Since you are limited to one recommended stop along the way, plan your break strategically to maximize your time behind the wheel. Keep your navigation system updated, as the reliance on local roads means you will encounter frequent turns that require precise timing. Given the $31 fuel estimate, filling up before you leave Hilton Head is a smart way to simplify your trip. Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace if you find yourself needing an extra leg stretch.
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 97.3 miles from Hilton Head, SC, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.2 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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.3 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Myrtle Beach, 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 194.6 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 US 17 for about 119.2 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 194.2 — 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
44 mi into trip|~55m in|US 17
Merge onto US 17
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
98.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
180.1 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|US 17
Take the exit onto US 17 toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 17 North: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle...
5
194.2 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Turn right onto US 17 Business / North Kings Highway
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.43 one way
$60.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$33.27
$66.55
premium
$4.70
$36.02
$72.03
diesel
$5.61
$42.97
$85.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.4
0
$20.43
$9.34
Efficient EV
48.7
0
$17.03
$7.78
EV Truck/SUV
77.8
0
$27.24
$12.45
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Myrtle Beach, SC
Late night
in Myrtle Beach on Sunday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
24 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
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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, as this route features 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating through regional thoroughfares, which creates a much more intimate, stop-and-go experience than a typical freeway slog. Because the route is composed of local roads, you will find frequent transitions in traffic patterns and speed limits. Keep in mind that this is not a route designed for cruise control; the winding nature of the local roads requires your full attention throughout the 194.9-mile transit.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 119.2 mi on US 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 17 and Ocean Highway. 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 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 15 significant decision points across 194.6 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 44 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.3 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, SC to Myrtle Beach, SC, road signs begin pointing toward Georgetown along the way.
Georgetown
98.3 mi in|~2h 12m|via US 17
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 24m. Total distance: 194.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 119.2 miles on US 17. 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 Myrtle Beach, 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 44 miles (US 17): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 98.3 miles (US 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Myrtle Beach, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
