Red Hill, SC to Hilton Head, SC is 209.7 miles and takes about 4h 14m via I 95 and East Myrtle Beach Highway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, entirely within South Carolina. It's a straightforward trip, mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. You'll find the route to be efficient, with a clear path from start to finish. Consider this a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
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
104.9 miles from Red Hill, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
106.3 mi
1h 53m
East Myrtle Beach Highway
36.1 mi
43m
Highway 378
22.9 mi
32m
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.6 mi
13m
Fording Island Road
9.3 mi
12m
Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi
10m
Okatie Highway
4.2 mi
4m
Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 106.3 mi, about 1h 53m
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 Red Hill, SC and Hilton Head, SC.
1
Start on Dobros Road
0.1 mi·34 sec·Dobros Road
2
Turn sharp right onto SC 90
0.5 mi·50 sec·Highway 90
3
Turn right onto US 501 Business
1.7 mi·2 min·US 501 Business
4
Turn left onto US 378
0.6 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn straight onto US 378
1.3 mi·3 min·Wright Boulevard
6
Continue on US 378
23 mi·32 min·Highway 378
7
Continue on US 378
36 mi·43 min·East Myrtle Beach Highway
8
Continue on US 301; US 378
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
9
Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway
3.5 mi·4 min·Clarence Coker Highway
10
Continue on US 378
1.1 mi·1 min·Myrtle Beach Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
12
Merge onto I 95
106 mi·1 hr 53 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
14
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi·13 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
15
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
16
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
18
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi·12 min·Fording Island Road
19
Continue on US 278
3.4 mi·4 min·William Hilton Parkway
20
Arrive at destination
US 278
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 14m estimated drive time, leaving Red Hill in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. The longest stretch on I 95 is over 100 miles, so plan your fuel accordingly before you hit that segment. While the drive is manageable in one day, if you prefer a more relaxed pace, an overnight stop is certainly an option. Keep an eye out for the transition from the interstate to surface roads around the 106-mile mark on I 95, as this is where the driving environment will change most significantly.
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 104.9 miles from Red Hill, SC, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106.3 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 46 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.9 miles or 2h 11m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head, SC than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Red Hill, 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 Red Hill, SC
This is one driving day of about 209.7 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Red Hill, 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 106.3 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 174.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|SC 90 / Highway 90
Turn sharp right onto SC 90 / Highway 90
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in|US 378 / 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto US 378 / 3rd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
68.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
5
68.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
174.9 mi into trip|~3h 26m in
Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.96 one way
$61.92 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$34.02
$68.05
premium
$4.49
$37.09
$74.17
diesel
$4.80
$39.60
$79.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.07
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.35
$8.39
EV Truck/SUV
83.9
1
$29.36
$13.42
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Red Hill, SC
Late night
in Red Hill on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Clear
SW 6 to 9 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:05PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC
Destination
Hilton Head, SC
Late night
in Hilton Head on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Clear
SW 9 to 13 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 8:05PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 8:04PM EDT until July 19 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
2 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
4h 14m 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.
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 209.7
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 101.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 64% of the driving on major roads. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 106.3 miles on I 95 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a noticeable increase in the number of exits and potential traffic as you approach more populated areas, especially as you move from I 95 onto East Myrtle Beach Highway and Highway 378. The latter part of the drive will feel more like cruising through local areas rather than high-speed interstate travel.
64% 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: 106.3 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and East Myrtle Beach Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near SC 90 / Highway 90.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 14m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SC 90 / Highway 90): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.3 miles (US 378 / 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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
The longest stretch is about 106.3 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.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (SC 90 / Highway 90): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.3 miles (US 378 / 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 68.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Hilton Head, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
