How far is Hilton Head Island, SC from Shell Point, SC?

The driving distance from Hilton Head Island, SC to Shell Point, SC is about 34.6 miles (55.7 km), with a travel time of about 00h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 13.1 miles (21.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 35m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
34.62 mi
00h 47m
Flight
13.11 mi
21.1 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hilton Head Island.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
13.11 mi
Kilometers
21.1 km
Flight Time
00h 01m

Driving Distance

Road route
34.62 mi
Kilometers
55.71 km
Drive Time
00h 47m

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 00h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shell Point
Thu, Apr 23, 7:56 AM EDT
Return by in Hilton Head Island
Thu, Apr 23, 8:43 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hilton Head Island
2026-04-23T07:08
Arrive Shell Point
Thu, Apr 23, 7:56 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:48 AM to 10:48 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:54 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hilton Head Island
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Bluffton
SC

Town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States

From Hilton Head Island
17.3 mi
00h 23m
To Shell Point
17.3 mi
00h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Overnight

Patchy Smoke

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW
Destination
60°F
Overnight

Patchy Smoke

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Allen Road

    887 ft · 42 sec · Allen Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Marshland Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Marshland Road

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    2176 ft · 53 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway

    2.3 mi · 2 min · Cross Island Parkway

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto William Hilton Parkway

    3.9 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

  6. 6

    Continue on Fording Island Road

    9 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    1444 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right

    45 m · 4 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway

    12.2 mi · 14 min · Okatie Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on Robert Smalls Parkway

    1942 ft · 27 sec · Robert Smalls Parkway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Savannah Highway

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Savannah Highway

  13. 13

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Parris Island Gateway

    49 m · 3 sec · Parris Island Gateway

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Parris Island Gateway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
14 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
40.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Okatie Highway
12.2 mi · 35%
Fording Island Road
9.27 mi · 27%
William Hilton Parkway
3.89 mi · 11%
Marshland Road
2.6 mi · 8%
Cross Island Parkway
2.28 mi · 7%
Savannah Highway
2.11 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Okatie Highway

Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway

12.2 mi · 00h 14m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
00h 47m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.5 mi
13.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bluffton
00h 23m from Hilton Head Island
Leave By
4:54 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Patchy Smoke leaving Hilton Head Island and Patchy Smoke near Shell Point.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 34.6 miles (55.7 km) and usually takes 00h 47m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Bluffton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.3 miles from Hilton Head Island and 17.3 miles from Shell Point.

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

The direct path is about 13.1 miles (21.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.5 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:54 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.83 one way or $9.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Smoke around Hilton Head Island and Patchy Smoke near Shell Point.

Stop Ideas Near Bluffton

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

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

RAIL

Savannah

32 mi away
2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive
RAIL

Yemassee

50 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

108 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue
RAIL

Jesup

119 mi away
176 Northwest Broad Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hilton Head Island and Shell Point. Straight-line distance: 13.11 mi (21.1 km).

Hilton Head Island

#1 Hilton Head Island

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population39,619
Coordinates32.1938200, -80.7381600
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Shell Point

#2 Shell Point

Census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina

Population2,336
Coordinates32.3835300, -80.7359400
Altitude5
CountryUnited States
Start: Hilton Head Island (-80.73816, 32.19382)
End: Shell Point (-80.73594, 32.38353)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 56 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.22 gal
4.62 L · about $4.83
Round trip
$9.66
2.44 gal · 9.24 L
Estimated CO2
10.8 kg one way
Round trip: 21.7 kg / 48 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $4.83 $9.66
Mid-grade $4.43 $5.40 $10.81
Premium $4.78 $5.83 $11.66
Diesel $5.62 $6.86 $13.72

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Hilton Head Island and Shell Point. The current time is 07:08:07.

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.