How far is Hilton Head Island, SC from Chester, SC?
The driving distance from Hilton Head Island, SC to Chester, SC is about 218.3 miles (351.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 22m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 175.7 miles (282.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 45m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 04h 22m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in South Carolina, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Hilton Head Island and Chester.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hilton Head Island and Chester.
-
1
Start on Allen Road
887 ft · 42 sec · Allen Road
-
2
Turn left onto Marshland Road
2.2 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road
-
3
Take the ramp right
2176 ft · 53 sec
-
4
Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway
2.3 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway
-
5
Merge slight left onto William Hilton Parkway
3.9 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway
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6
Continue on Fording Island Road
9 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road
-
7
Take the exit slight right
1444 ft · 40 sec
-
8
Keep slight right
45 m · 4 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway
3.9 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway
-
10
Take the exit slight left
149 m · 14 sec
-
11
Continue on Lowcountry Drive
7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive
-
12
Continue on Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.4 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive
-
13
Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence
1435 ft · 35 sec
-
14
Merge slight left
57.2 mi · 1 hr 1 min
-
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 26 West: Columbia
1864 ft · 1 min
-
16
Merge slight left
57.1 mi · 1 hr 2 min
-
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 1 North: West Columbia
1062 ft · 26 sec
-
18
Merge slight left onto Augusta Road
2930 ft · 42 sec · Augusta Road
-
19
Turn straight onto Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
2.7 mi · 3 min · Jarvis Klapman Boulevard
-
20
Continue on Hampton Street
1.4 mi · 3 min · Hampton Street
-
21
Turn left onto Bull Street
1.3 mi · 2 min · Bull Street
-
22
Continue on I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
7.6 mi · 9 min · I. DeQuincey Newman Freeway
-
23
Merge slight left onto Charles F Bolden Freeway
35.7 mi · 38 min · Charles F Bolden Freeway
-
24
Take the exit slight right toward SC 97: Great Falls, Chester
1587 ft · 39 sec
-
25
Keep slight left to continue on SC 97: Great Falls, Chester
26 m · 6 sec
-
26
Turn left onto Great Falls Highway
12.2 mi · 21 min · Great Falls Highway
-
27
At the end of the road, turn right onto Columbia Road
1.3 km · 1 min · Columbia Road
-
28
Continue on Columbia Street
1 mi · 2 min · Columbia Street
-
29
Turn left onto West End Street
6 m · 1 sec · West End Street
-
30
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West End Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Hilton Head Island and Chester.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 95 North
Merge slight left
57.2 mi · 01h 01m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Hilton Head Island and Sunny near Chester.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Hilton Head Island to Chester?
The road trip is about 218.3 miles (351.3 km) and usually takes 04h 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?
Bowman is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.2 miles from Hilton Head Island and 109.1 miles from Chester.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 175.7 miles (282.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 42.6 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 8:14 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.50 one way or $61.00 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 68.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Hilton Head Island and Sunny near Chester.
Stop Ideas Near Bowman
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Bowman.
Denmark
Yemassee
Columbia
Charleston, South Carolina
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Hilton Head Island and Chester. Straight-line distance: 175.66 mi (282.69 km).
#1 Hilton Head Island
Resort town in South Carolina, USA
| Population | 39,619 |
| Coordinates | 32.1938200, -80.7381600 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Chester
Small rural city in Chester County, South Carolina, United States
| Population | 5,363 |
| Coordinates | 34.7048600, -81.2142600 |
| Altitude | 163 |
| Country | United States |
End: Chester (-81.21426, 34.70486)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 351 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 27m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 07m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 43m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.96 | $30.50 | $61.00 |
| Mid-grade | $4.43 | $34.10 | $68.21 |
| Premium | $4.78 | $36.79 | $73.58 |
| Diesel | $5.62 | $43.30 | $86.61 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.