How far is Arial, SC from Hilton Head Island, SC?

The driving distance from Arial, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is about 269.7 miles (434.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 213.5 miles (343.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
269.71 mi
05h 19m
Flight
213.53 mi
343.64 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Arial.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
213.53 mi
Kilometers
343.64 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
269.71 mi
Kilometers
434.06 km
Drive Time
05h 19m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head Island
Wed, Apr 15, 6:00 PM EDT
Return by in Arial
Wed, Apr 15, 11:20 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Arial
2026-04-15T12:40
Arrive Hilton Head Island
Wed, Apr 15, 6:00 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:20 AM to 1:20 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
6:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Arial
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Swansea
SC

Town in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States

From Arial
134.9 mi
02h 39m
To Hilton Head Island
134.8 mi
02h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Today

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 10:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph SW
Destination
79°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Arial and Hilton Head Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Arial and Hilton Head Island.

  1. 1

    Start on Cobb Street

    607 ft · 29 sec · Cobb Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Arial Street

    641 ft · 35 sec · Arial Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Rice Road

    725 ft · 27 sec · Rice Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Gentry Memorial Highway

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Gentry Memorial Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on West Main Street

    3.3 mi · 6 min · West Main Street

  6. 6

    Merge slight right onto Calhoun Memorial Highway

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Calhoun Memorial Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    1547 ft · 42 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    763 ft · 21 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Highway 153

    6.3 mi · 10 min · Highway 153

  10. 10

    Take the exit right

    1932 ft · 48 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Southern Connector

    10.9 mi · 12 min · Southern Connector

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 385 South: Columbia

    3014 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight right

    1140 ft · 14 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Golden Strip Freeway

    29.8 mi · 32 min · Golden Strip Freeway

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

    60.2 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah

    1.4 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

    1478 ft · 37 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  21. 21

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Okatie Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right

    1365 ft · 37 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  25. 25

    Continue on William Hilton Parkway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · William Hilton Parkway

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Cross Island Parkway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    2198 ft · 59 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Marshland Road

    2.3 mi · 6 min · Marshland Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Allen Road

    887 ft · 39 sec · Allen Road

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Allen Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Arial and Hilton Head Island.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
30 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
8 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden Strip Freeway
85.5 mi · 32%
Charleston
60.2 mi · 22%
I 95 South
57.4 mi · 21%
Southern Connector
10.9 mi · 4%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.58 mi · 4%
Fording Island Road
9.26 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Charleston

Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

60.2 mi · 01h 06m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56.2 mi
213.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Swansea
02h 39m from Arial
Leave By
6:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Arial and Sunny near Hilton Head Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Arial to Hilton Head Island?

The road trip is about 269.7 miles (434.1 km) and usually takes 05h 19m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Swansea is a useful midpoint, sitting about 134.9 miles from Arial and 134.8 miles from Hilton Head Island.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 213.5 miles (343.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 56.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.71 one way or $75.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Arial and Sunny near Hilton Head Island.

Stop Ideas Near Swansea

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Swansea, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Swansea.

RAIL

Columbia

29 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Denmark

46 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Camden

71 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Kingstree

118 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Arial and Hilton Head Island. Straight-line distance: 213.53 mi (343.64 km).

Arial

#1 Arial

Census-designated place in Pickens County, South Carolina

Population2,543
Coordinates34.8459500, -82.6415200
Altitude329
CountryUnited States
Hilton Head Island

#2 Hilton Head Island

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population39,619
Coordinates32.1938200, -80.7381600
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Arial (-82.64152, 34.84595)
End: Hilton Head Island (-80.73816, 32.19382)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 434 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 51m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.52 gal
36.03 L · about $37.71
Round trip
$75.42
19.04 gal · 72.06 L
Estimated CO2
84.6 kg one way
Round trip: 169.2 kg / 373 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $37.71 $75.42
Mid-grade $4.43 $42.16 $84.33
Premium $4.78 $45.49 $90.97
Diesel $5.62 $53.54 $107.08

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in South Carolina · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Arial and Hilton Head Island. The current time is 12:40:14.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.