How far is Darlington, SC from Hilton Head, SC?

The driving distance from Darlington, SC to Hilton Head, SC is about 177.4 miles (285.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 152.6 miles (245.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 44m 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
177.38 mi
03h 22m
Flight
152.6 mi
245.59 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Darlington.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
152.6 mi
Kilometers
245.59 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
177.38 mi
Kilometers
285.46 km
Drive Time
03h 22m

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 03h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head
Sat, Apr 11, 12:28 PM EDT
Return by in Darlington
Sat, Apr 11, 3:50 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Darlington
2026-04-11T09:05
Arrive Hilton Head
Sat, Apr 11, 12:28 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:22 AM to 11:22 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:16 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Darlington
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
Saint George
SC

Town in South Carolina

From Darlington
88.8 mi
01h 41m
To Hilton Head
88.6 mi
01h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph NW
Destination
79°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Darlington and Hilton Head.

  1. 1

    Start on Pearl Street

    1854 ft · 42 sec · Pearl Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South Main Street

    5 mi · 6 min · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on West Lucas Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · West Lucas Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left

    1116 ft · 31 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    135.5 mi · 2 hr 26 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

    1478 ft · 37 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  8. 8

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Okatie Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right

    1365 ft · 37 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  12. 12

    Continue on William Hilton Parkway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · William Hilton Parkway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Lucas Street
137 mi · 77%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.58 mi · 5%
Fording Island Road
9.26 mi · 5%
Lowcountry Drive
7.89 mi · 4%
South Main Street
5.04 mi · 3%
Okatie Highway
4.43 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

West Lucas Street

Merge slight left

135 mi · 02h 26m

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
03h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.8 mi
152.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint George
01h 41m from Darlington
Leave By
10:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Darlington and Sunny near Hilton Head.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Darlington to Hilton Head?

The road trip is about 177.4 miles (285.5 km) and usually takes 03h 22m 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?

Saint George is a useful midpoint, sitting about 88.8 miles from Darlington and 88.6 miles from Hilton Head.

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

The direct path is about 152.6 miles (245.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.8 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 10:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.80 one way or $49.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 55.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Darlington and Sunny near Hilton Head.

Stop Ideas Near Saint George

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Saint George, 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 Saint George.

RAIL

Denmark

55 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Yemassee

61 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

64 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue
RAIL

Kingstree

87 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Darlington and Hilton Head. Straight-line distance: 152.6 mi (245.59 km).

Darlington

#1 Darlington

City in South Carolina

Population5,901
Coordinates34.2998800, -79.8761700
Altitude46
CountryUnited States
Hilton Head

#2 Hilton Head

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population37,099
Coordinates32.2163200, -80.7526100
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Darlington (-79.87617, 34.29988)
End: Hilton Head (-80.75261, 32.21632)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 285 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 54m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 26m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 57m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.26 gal
23.69 L · about $24.80
Round trip
$49.59
12.52 gal · 47.38 L
Estimated CO2
55.6 kg one way
Round trip: 111.3 kg / 245 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.80 $49.59
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.73 $55.45
Premium $4.78 $29.91 $59.82
Diesel $5.62 $35.21 $70.41

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 11, 2026

There is no time difference between Darlington and Hilton Head. The current time is 09:05:43.

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.