Trip from Saint George, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 53m

Distance

90.6 mi

146 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min

4 AM

1h 45m ★

6 AM

1h 53m

8 AM

2h 10m

10 AM

1h 59m

12 PM

1h 57m

3 PM

2h 0m

5 PM

2h 9m

8 PM

1h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint George, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Hilton Head Island, SC

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 90.6-mile drive from Saint George, SC, to Hilton Head Island, SC, will take you about 1 hour and 53 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, this trip is an easy day trip, perfect for a single day's adventure. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including Memorial Boulevard and West Jim Bilton Boulevard, before merging onto I-95 South for a portion of the journey. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward navigation, you won't need to worry about breaking it up into multiple days. Both your origin and destination are within the Southeast region, keeping the scenery consistent throughout.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

45.3 miles from Saint George, SC

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 95	47.9 mi	51m
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
William Hilton Parkway	3.8 mi	4m
Cross Island Parkway	2.4 mi	2m
Marshland Road	2.3 mi	5m

Longest stretch: I 95 — 47.9 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint George, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.

Start on Ridge Street

386 ft · 24 sec · Ridge Street

Turn left onto US 78

0.8 mi · 1 min · Memorial Boulevard

Continue on US 78

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Jim Bilton Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 95 South: Savannah

Merge onto I 95

48 mi · 51 min · I 95

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

Turn left onto SC 462

9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

Continue on SC 462

7.9 mi · 10 min · Lowcountry Drive

Turn right onto SC 170

4.2 mi · 4 min · Okatie Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Merge onto US 278

9.3 mi · 12 min · Fording Island Road

Continue on US 278

3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 278

2.4 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 59 sec

Turn left onto Marshland Road

2.3 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road

Turn right onto Allen Road

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Allen Road

Arrive at destination

Allen Road

Trip Plan

For this manageable 1 hour and 53-minute journey, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. There are no designated stops, so plan your breaks as needed, keeping in mind the estimated $15 fuel cost. Since the route is a turn-heavy local drive, pay close attention to navigation, especially when transitioning between Memorial Boulevard, West Jim Bilton Boulevard, and I-95 South. Aim to leave early to avoid any potential local traffic congestion, particularly if you're traveling on a weekday.

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 45.3 miles from Saint George, SC, or about 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 20 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.3 miles or 49m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton Head Island, SC than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Saint George, SC so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Saint George, SC

This is one driving day of about 90.6 miles and 1h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Saint George, SC.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 47.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ridgeland, SC

45 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Walterboro, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 90.6

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Hilton Head Distillery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 90.6

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hours: 12–7 pm

+18436864443

Visit website

Coligny Beach Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 90.6

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18433424580

Visit website

Fish Haul Beach Park

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 90.6

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18433414600

Visit website

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 0.1 and 88.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 78 / Memorial Boulevard

Turn left onto US 78 / Memorial Boulevard

Navigation decision point

2.1 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 95

Merge onto I 95

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

50.1 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

85.3 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | US 278 / Cross Island Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto US 278 / Cross Island Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

88.1 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | Marshland Road

Turn left onto Marshland Road

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.17 one way

$28.34 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$15.49	$30.98
premium	$4.70	$16.77	$33.54
diesel	$5.61	$20.00	$40.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	27.2	$9.51	$4.35
Efficient EV	22.7	$7.93	$3.62
EV Truck/SUV	36.2	$12.68	$5.80

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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 16, 2026

Origin

Saint George, SC

Morning in Saint George on Sunday

Local time

10:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton Head Island, SC

Morning in Hilton Head Island on Sunday

Local time

10:25 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

S 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued April 16 at 2:47AM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Wilmington NC

52°F

Ridgeland, SC

45 mi in

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

31 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

1h 53m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for much of this route, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as the highway share is 0%. This means you'll be navigating through towns and local thoroughfares for the majority of your trip. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, the profile suggests frequent turns and changes in road type. You'll likely experience a mix of surface streets and potentially some faster sections as you transition between local roads and I-95 South. Be prepared for this dynamic driving experience.

60% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 47.9 mi on I 95.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 78 / Memorial Boulevard.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 90.6 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 0.1 miles (US 78 / Memorial Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 95): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 53m. Total distance: 90.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 47.9 miles on I 95. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Hilton Head Island, SC before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hilton Head Island, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Saint George, SC or browse trips ending in Hilton Head Island, SC.

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Trip from Saint George, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Corner Perk Hilton Head

Corner Perk Hilton Head

Island Skiff Adventure Tours

Oscar Frazier Park

King Neptune Sundial

Hilton Head Distillery

Coligny Beach Park

Fish Haul Beach Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Saint George, SC

Hilton Head Island, SC

Same local time

31 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 53m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Hilton Head Island, SC

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