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

The driving distance from Hilton Head, SC to Union, SC is about 210.2 miles (338.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 172.9 miles (278.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 24m 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
210.23 mi
04h 12m
Flight
172.86 mi
278.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hilton Head.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
172.86 mi
Kilometers
278.19 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
210.23 mi
Kilometers
338.34 km
Drive Time
04h 12m

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 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Union
Fri, Apr 17, 9:24 AM EDT
Return by in Hilton Head
Fri, Apr 17, 1:36 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hilton Head
2026-04-17T05:12
Arrive Union
Fri, Apr 17, 9:24 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 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
8:36 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hilton Head
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
Santee
SC

City in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States of America

From Hilton Head
105.3 mi
02h 06m
To Union
105 mi
02h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SW
Destination
90°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    9 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right

    1444 ft · 40 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight right

    45 m · 4 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Okatie Highway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight left

    149 m · 14 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  9. 9

    Continue on Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.4 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  10. 10

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

    1435 ft · 35 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    93.1 mi · 1 hr 40 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 521: Alcolu, Sumter

    1660 ft · 41 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on US 521 North: Alcolu, Sumter

    88 m · 7 sec

  14. 14

    Turn left

    12.4 mi · 14 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto South Guignard Parkway

    1.1 mi · 1 min · South Guignard Parkway

  16. 16

    Continue on South Guignard Drive

    3.6 mi · 4 min · South Guignard Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on Bultman Drive

    1.1 km · 2 min · Bultman Drive

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Broad Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Broad Street

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Camden Highway

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Camden Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on Thomas Sumter Highway

    7.6 mi · 9 min · Thomas Sumter Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Camden Highway

    6.2 mi · 7 min · Camden Highway

  22. 22

    Continue on Sumter Highway

    8.4 mi · 10 min · Sumter Highway

  23. 23

    Continue on Broad Street

    4.2 mi · 9 min · Broad Street

  24. 24

    Continue on Kershaw Highway

    14.4 mi · 16 min · Kershaw Highway

  25. 25

    Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Kershaw Camden Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on South Hampton Street

    1.1 km · 48 sec · South Hampton Street

  27. 27

    Turn left onto South Matson Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · South Matson Street

  28. 28

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Kershaw Camden Highway

    4.8 mi · 5 min · Kershaw Camden Highway

  29. 29

    Continue on Spring Street

    1.3 km · 56 sec · Spring Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Main Street

  31. 31

    Continue on Kershaw Camden Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Kershaw Camden Highway

  32. 32

    Turn slight right onto Rocky River Road

    7.7 mi · 14 min · Rocky River Road

  33. 33

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    60 m · 3 sec

  34. 34

    Exit the roundabout

    8 m · 1 sec

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
35 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 North
93.4 mi · 44%
Kershaw Highway
14.4 mi · 7%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.39 mi · 4%
Fording Island Road
9.27 mi · 4%
Kershaw Camden Highway
8.85 mi · 4%
Sumter Highway
8.43 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 95 North

Merge slight left

93.1 mi · 01h 40m

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 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+37.3 mi
172.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Santee
02h 06m from Hilton Head
Leave By
8:36 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Hilton Head and Sunny near Union.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 210.2 miles (338.3 km) and usually takes 04h 12m 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?

Santee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 105.3 miles from Hilton Head and 105 miles from Union.

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

The direct path is about 172.9 miles (278.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 37.3 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 8:36 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.39 one way or $58.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Santee

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

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

RAIL

Denmark

63 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Kingstree

64 mi away
101 East Main St.
RAIL

Columbia

77 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

81 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hilton Head and Union. Straight-line distance: 172.86 mi (278.19 km).

Hilton Head

#1 Hilton Head

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population37,099
Coordinates32.2163200, -80.7526100
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Union

County seat of Union County, South Carolina

Population7,535
Coordinates34.7157100, -80.6211800
Altitude195
CountryUnited States
Start: Hilton Head (-80.75261, 32.21632)
End: Union (-80.62118, 34.71571)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 338 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.42 gal
28.08 L · about $29.39
Round trip
$58.78
14.84 gal · 56.16 L
Estimated CO2
65.9 kg one way
Round trip: 131.9 kg / 291 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $29.39 $58.78
Mid-grade $4.43 $32.86 $65.73
Premium $4.78 $35.45 $70.91
Diesel $5.62 $41.73 $83.46

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Hilton Head and Union. The current time is 05:12:28.

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.