How far is Hilton Head Island, SC from Ware Shoals, SC?

The driving distance from Hilton Head Island, SC to Ware Shoals, SC is about 241.2 miles (388.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 175.5 miles (282.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 41m 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
241.12 mi
04h 50m
Flight
175.48 mi
282.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hilton Head Island.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
175.48 mi
Kilometers
282.4 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
241.12 mi
Kilometers
388.05 km
Drive Time
04h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ware Shoals
Sun, Apr 19, 1:31 PM EDT
Return by in Hilton Head Island
Sun, Apr 19, 6:22 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hilton Head Island
2026-04-19T08:40
Arrive Ware Shoals
Sun, Apr 19, 1:31 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 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
7:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hilton Head Island
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
Brookdale
SC

Census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California

From Hilton Head Island
120.6 mi
02h 25m
To Ware Shoals
120.5 mi
02h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph W
Destination
77°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight left

    149 m · 14 sec

  11. 11

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  12. 12

    Continue on Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.4 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  13. 13

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 95 North, US 17 North: Florence

    1435 ft · 35 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    57.2 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 West: Columbia

    1864 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    116.6 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 385 North: Laurens, Greenville

    5.1 mi · 5 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 49: Laurens, Cross Anchor, Union

    1045 ft · 32 sec

  19. 19

    Turn left onto Highway 49

    50 m · 3 sec · Highway 49

  20. 20

    Continue on State Highway 49

    1.4 km · 1 min · State Highway 49

  21. 21

    Continue on Yarborough Mill Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Yarborough Mill Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Lucas Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lucas Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on North Harper Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Harper Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Hillcrest Drive

    1.2 km · 2 min · Hillcrest Drive

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Church Street

    1213 ft · 36 sec · Church Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Anderson Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Anderson Drive

  27. 27

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  28. 28

    Continue on Highway 76 West

    1456 ft · 30 sec · Highway 76 West

  29. 29

    Turn left onto Highway 252

    8.3 mi · 15 min · Highway 252

  30. 30

    Continue on State Highway 252

    5.6 mi · 10 min · State Highway 252

  31. 31

    Turn right onto West Main Street

    26 m · 4 sec · West Main Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
32 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
5 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 26 West
117 mi · 49%
I 95 North
57.5 mi · 24%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.39 mi · 4%
Fording Island Road
9.27 mi · 4%
Highway 252
8.28 mi · 3%
Lowcountry Drive
7.89 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 26 West

Merge slight left

117 mi · 02h 07m

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
04h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+65.7 mi
175.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brookdale
02h 25m from Hilton Head Island
Leave By
7:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Hilton Head Island and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ware Shoals.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 241.2 miles (388.1 km) and usually takes 04h 50m 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?

Brookdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.6 miles from Hilton Head Island and 120.5 miles from Ware Shoals.

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

The direct path is about 175.5 miles (282.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.7 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 7:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.71 one way or $67.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around Hilton Head Island and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Ware Shoals.

Stop Ideas Near Brookdale

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

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

RAIL

Denmark

36 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Columbia

58 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Camden

84 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Yemassee

91 mi away
9 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hilton Head Island and Ware Shoals. Straight-line distance: 175.48 mi (282.4 km).

Hilton Head Island

#1 Hilton Head Island

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population39,619
Coordinates32.1938200, -80.7381600
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Ware Shoals

#2 Ware Shoals

City in South Carolina, United States of America

Population2,152
Coordinates34.3984500, -82.2467900
Altitude192
CountryUnited States
Start: Hilton Head Island (-80.73816, 32.19382)
End: Ware Shoals (-82.24679, 34.39845)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 388 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.51 gal
32.21 L · about $33.71
Round trip
$67.42
17.02 gal · 64.42 L
Estimated CO2
75.6 kg one way
Round trip: 151.3 kg / 334 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $33.71 $67.42
Mid-grade $4.43 $37.69 $75.38
Premium $4.78 $40.66 $81.32
Diesel $5.62 $47.86 $95.72

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Hilton Head Island and Ware Shoals. The current time is 08:40:55.

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.