Origin
Port Royal, SC
Late night in Port Royal on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Port Royal, SC to Hilton Head, SC
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
43m
Distance
32.7 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 40m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Royal, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Port Royal to Hilton Head is 32.7 miles and takes about 43 minutes via Okatie Highway and William Hilton Parkway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Southeast region, specifically South Carolina, making it an easy transition. The drive is primarily on local roads, so expect to navigate through communities rather than relying solely on high-speed highways. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for when you want to get from point A to point B without a lot of fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Okatie Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| William Hilton Parkway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Savannah Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Parris Island Gateway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Ribaut Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Russell Bell Bridge | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Okatie Highway
— 12.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Port Royal, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on Paris Avenue
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Paris Avenue
2
Turn left onto US 21
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Ribaut Road
3
Continue on US 21
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Russell Bell Bridge
4
Continue on US 21
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Parris Island Gateway
5
Turn left onto SC 128
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Savannah Highway
6
Turn left onto SC 170
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
·
Robert Smalls Parkway
7
Continue on SC 170
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge
8
Continue on SC 170
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Okatie Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
10
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
11
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
12
Arrive at destination
US 278
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 20 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 21 / Ribaut Road
Turn left onto US 21 / Ribaut Road
Navigation decision point
3
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
SC 128 / Savannah Highway
Turn left onto SC 128 / Savannah Highway
Navigation decision point
3
5.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Turn left onto SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway
Navigation decision point
3
19.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
20 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 278 / Fording Island Road
Merge onto US 278 / Fording Island Road
Merge point - match speed before joining
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.11 one way
$10.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.59 | $11.18 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.05 | $12.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.22 | $14.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Hilton Head, SC
Late night in Hilton Head on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
24 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
43m 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?
This drive is characterized by frequent turns, giving it a local feel rather than a high-speed interstate experience. While 12% of the route involves highway driving, the majority unfolds on roads like Okatie Highway and Fording Island Road. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 12.3 miles on Okatie Highway. Expect a pace that allows you to observe your surroundings as you transition through different areas on your way to Hilton Head.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.3 mi on Okatie Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 21 / Ribaut Road.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Port Royal, SC to Hilton Head, SC is easy. At 43m with 12% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 21 / Ribaut Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (SC 128 / Savannah Highway): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 43m. Total distance: 32.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (12%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.3 miles on Okatie Highway. 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 0.4 miles (US 21 / Ribaut Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.2 miles (SC 128 / Savannah Highway): Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (SC 170 / Robert Smalls Parkway): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical 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 Hilton Head, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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