Origin
Summerville, SC
Morning in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Summerville, 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
2h 21m
Distance
101.3 mi
163 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Summerville, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Hilton Head Island, SC
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Summerville, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is 101.3 miles and takes about 2h 21m via I 95 and Boonehill Road, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within South Carolina, traveling from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll experience a mixed drive, making it a straightforward journey perfect for a single day. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from the Summerville area to the popular coastal destination of Hilton Head Island without a lengthy travel commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.7 miles from Summerville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 24.5 mi | 26m |
| Boonehill Road | 20.2 mi | 29m |
| Coosaw Scenic Drive | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Fording Island Road | 9.3 mi | 12m |
| Lowcountry Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| South Main Street | 6.1 mi | 10m |
| Okatie Highway | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Cottageville Highway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 24.5 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summerville, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on this road
163 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto US 17 Alternate
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Alt
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on US 17 Alt
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
5
Continue on US 17 Alt
20 mi
·
29 min
·
Boonehill Road
6
Continue on US 17 Alternate
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Cottageville Highway
7
Turn left onto SC 64
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Robertson Boulevard
8
Turn right onto SC 64 Business
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Hampton Street
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Alt; SC 63
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
South Jefferies Boulevard
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
11
Merge onto I 95
25 mi
·
26 min
·
I 95
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
13
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Coosaw Scenic Drive
14
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Lowcountry Drive
15
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Okatie Highway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
17
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi
·
12 min
·
Fording Island Road
18
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
William Hilton Parkway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
21
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marshland Road
22
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Allen Road
23
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 21 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in one day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. It's advisable to leave in the morning to maximize your time on Hilton Head Island. While there are no specified stops, you'll cover the 101.3 miles with a fuel cost around $16. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing Summerville, as the longest stretch on I 95 is 24.5 miles. Planning to refuel before hitting the interstate is a good idea if you're starting with a low tank.
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 50.7 miles from Summerville, SC, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.5 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.7 miles or 1h 12m 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 53m
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 Summerville, 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 Summerville, SC
This is one driving day of about 101.3 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Summerville, SC.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 95 for about 24.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.7 miles from Summerville, SC, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 17 Alternate / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 17 Alternate / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 17 Alt / South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 17 Alt / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
32.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 17 Alt; SC 63 / South Jefferies Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto US 17 Alt; SC 63 / South Jefferies Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
35.9 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 South: Savannah
Navigation decision point
Toward I 95 South: Savannah
4
60.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.84 one way
$31.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $17.32 | $34.64 |
| premium | $4.70 | $18.75 | $37.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.37 | $44.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.64 | $4.86 |
| Efficient EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.86 | $4.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.5 | 0 | $14.18 | $6.48 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Morning in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
7:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Sunny
S 10 mph
0% chance
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
7 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
2h 21m 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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 94.4
View on nps.gov
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Two forts stand at the entrance of Charleston Harbor. Patriots inside a palmetto log fort, later named Fort Moultrie, defeated the Royal Navy in 1776. As Charleston blazed a path towards secession to...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
$10
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with about 30% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on I 95, including the longest uninterrupted segment of 24.5 miles, which offers faster travel. As you move away from the interstate, expect to transition to local roads like Boonehill Road and Coosaw Scenic Drive, which will likely offer a different pace. The profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and more local road conditions, so be prepared for varied driving environments.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.5 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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 17 Alternate / South Main Street.
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 101.3 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (US 17 Alternate / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 17 Alt / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (US 17 Alt; SC 63 / South Jefferies Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 101.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.5 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 17 Alternate / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (US 17 Alt / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.5 miles (US 17 Alt; SC 63 / South Jefferies Boulevard): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Reconstruction Era National Historical Park and Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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