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

The driving distance from Hilton Head, SC to Bluffton, SC is about 8.3 miles (13.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 6.5 miles (10.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
8.25 mi
00h 13m
Flight
6.46 mi
10.4 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hilton Head.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
6.46 mi
Kilometers
10.4 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
8.25 mi
Kilometers
13.28 km
Drive Time
00h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bluffton
Sat, Apr 11, 7:41 AM EDT
Return by in Hilton Head
Sat, Apr 11, 7:54 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hilton Head
2026-04-11T07:28
Arrive Bluffton
Sat, Apr 11, 7:41 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:13 AM to 7:13 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
8:04 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Hilton Head
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Hilton Head Island
SC

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

From Hilton Head
4.1 mi
00h 06m
To Bluffton
4.1 mi
00h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph NE
Destination
81°F
Saturday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on William Hilton Parkway

    1601 ft · 29 sec · William Hilton Parkway

  2. 2

    Continue on William Hilton Parkway

    3.8 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

  3. 3

    Continue on Fording Island Road

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Fording Island Road

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Burnt Church Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Burnt Church Road

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Bruin Road

    2390 ft · 1 min · Bruin Road

  6. 6

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Bruin Road

Car Route Details

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

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
6 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
72.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
William Hilton Parkway
4.06 mi · 49%
Fording Island Road
2.54 mi · 31%
Burnt Church Road
1.19 mi · 14%
Bruin Road
0.45 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

William Hilton Parkway

Continue on William Hilton Parkway

3.76 mi · 00h 04m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 13m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.8 mi
6.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hilton Head Island
00h 06m from Hilton Head
Leave By
8:04 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hilton Head and Sunny near Bluffton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 8.3 miles (13.3 km) and usually takes 00h 13m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hilton Head Island is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4.1 miles from Hilton Head and 4.1 miles from Bluffton.

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

The direct path is about 6.5 miles (10.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:04 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.15 one way or $2.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Hilton Head Island

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Hilton Head Island, 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 Hilton Head Island.

RAIL

Savannah

40 mi away
2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive
RAIL

Yemassee

56 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

103 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hilton Head and Bluffton. Straight-line distance: 6.46 mi (10.4 km).

Hilton Head

#1 Hilton Head

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population37,099
Coordinates32.2163200, -80.7526100
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Bluffton

#2 Bluffton

Town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States

Population28,230
Coordinates32.2371500, -80.8603900
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Hilton Head (-80.75261, 32.21632)
End: Bluffton (-80.86039, 32.23715)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 13 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.29 gal
1.1 L · about $1.15
Round trip
$2.30
0.58 gal · 2.2 L
Estimated CO2
2.6 kg one way
Round trip: 5.2 kg / 11 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $1.15 $2.30
Mid-grade $4.43 $1.28 $2.57
Premium $4.78 $1.39 $2.77
Diesel $5.62 $1.63 $3.26

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 Hilton Head and Bluffton. The current time is 07:28:01.

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.