Timmonsville to Hilton Head Island is 167.8 miles and takes about 3h 16m via I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Southeast region, specifically South Carolina for its entirety. It’s a straightforward, highway-focused drive that’s perfect for a single-day excursion. With a relatively short duration and manageable distance, it offers a convenient way to get from point A to point B without significant planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.9 miles from Timmonsville, SC
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
124.5 mi
2h 13m
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
— 124.5 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Timmonsville, SC and Hilton Head Island, SC.
1
Start on East Main Street
175 ft·13 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto SC 403
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Brockington Street
3
Turn left onto US 76
0.2 mi·18 sec·East Smith Street
4
Turn right onto Honda Street
0.2 mi·17 sec·Honda Street
5
Continue on Honda Way
1.9 mi·3 min·Honda Way
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
7
Merge onto I 95
124 mi·2 hr 13 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
9
Turn left onto SC 462
9.6 mi·13 min·Coosaw Scenic Drive
10
Continue on SC 462
7.9 mi·10 min·Lowcountry Drive
11
Turn right onto SC 170
4.2 mi·4 min·Okatie Highway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
13
Merge onto US 278
9.3 mi·12 min·Fording Island Road
14
Continue on US 278
3.8 mi·4 min·William Hilton Parkway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278
2.4 mi·2 min·Cross Island Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
17
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Marshland Road
18
Turn right onto Allen Road
0.2 mi·38 sec·Allen Road
19
Arrive at destination
Allen Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 16m drive time, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Hilton Head Island without feeling rushed. You'll have one major stretch of 124.5 miles on I 95, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. While there's only one indicated stop, you might want to identify a comfortable rest area along I 95 for a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $26, so keep that in mind as you budget for your trip.
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 83.9 miles from Timmonsville, SC, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.5 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 37 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.9 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 33m
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 Timmonsville, 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 Timmonsville, SC
This is one driving day of about 167.8 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Timmonsville, 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 124.5 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 127.3 — 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|SC 403 / South Brockington Street
Turn left onto SC 403 / South Brockington Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 76 / East Smith Street
Turn left onto US 76 / East Smith Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|Honda Street
Turn right onto Honda Street
Navigation decision point
5
2.9 mi into trip|~5m in|I 95
Merge onto I 95
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
127.3 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.24 one way
$52.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.69
$57.38
premium
$4.70
$31.06
$62.11
diesel
$5.61
$37.05
$74.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.3
0
$17.62
$8.05
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.68
$6.71
EV Truck/SUV
67.1
0
$23.49
$10.74
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Timmonsville, SC
Late night
in Timmonsville on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hilton Head Island, SC
Late night
in Hilton Head Island on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°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
32 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
3h 16m 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.
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 162.1
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
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 52.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the journey on major interstates. Expect a long, uninterrupted stretch of 124.5 miles on I 95, which will likely feel like the bulk of your time behind the wheel. While the profile is highway-heavy, the route incorporates Coosaw Scenic Drive and Fording Island Road, offering a change of pace from the interstate. You’ll notice the transition from pure highway to more local roads as you approach your destination.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124.5 mi on I 95.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and Coosaw Scenic Drive. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near SC 403 / South Brockington Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 167.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 (SC 403 / South Brockington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 76 / East Smith Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Honda Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 167.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 124.5 miles on I 95. 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.
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: near the start (SC 403 / South Brockington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 76 / East Smith Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Honda Street): Navigation decision point.
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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Hilton Head Island, SC, but most travelers stay overnight.
