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

The driving distance from Hilton Head, SC to Welcome, SC is about 256.8 miles (413.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 204.8 miles (329.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 46m 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
256.75 mi
04h 53m
Flight
204.83 mi
329.65 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
204.83 mi
Kilometers
329.65 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
256.75 mi
Kilometers
413.2 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Welcome
Thu, Apr 23, 10:19 AM EDT
Return by in Hilton Head
Thu, Apr 23, 3:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hilton Head
2026-04-23T05:26
Arrive Welcome
Thu, Apr 23, 10:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 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
7:14 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
Saint Matthews
SC

Town in Calhoun County, South Carolina

From Hilton Head
128.4 mi
02h 26m
To Welcome
128.3 mi
02h 26m

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
53°F
Overnight

Clear

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    57.2 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 26 West: Columbia

    1864 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    116.6 mi · 2 hr 7 min

  14. 14

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

    29.6 mi · 32 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 185, US 276: Atlanta, Mauldin, Anderson

    2748 ft · 34 sec

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward I 185: Atlanta, Anderson

    3027 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Southern Connector

    14.2 mi · 16 min · Southern Connector

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25: White Horse Road, Travelers Rest

    675 ft · 16 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight left

    45 m · 10 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto White Horse Road

    2 mi · 4 min · White Horse Road

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Welcome Avenue

    2082 ft · 59 sec · Welcome Avenue

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Brownwood Drive

    964 ft · 42 sec · Brownwood Drive

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Brownwood Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 26 West
117 mi · 46%
I 95 North
57.5 mi · 22%
I 385 North
29.6 mi · 12%
Southern Connector
14.2 mi · 6%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.39 mi · 4%
Fording Island Road
9.27 mi · 4%
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 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52 mi
204.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint Matthews
02h 26m from Hilton Head
Leave By
7:14 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Patchy Smoke leaving Hilton Head and Clear near Welcome.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 256.8 miles (413.2 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?

Saint Matthews is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.4 miles from Hilton Head and 128.3 miles from Welcome.

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

The direct path is about 204.8 miles (329.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 52 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 7:14 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.89 one way or $71.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Smoke around Hilton Head and Clear near Welcome.

Stop Ideas Near Saint Matthews

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

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

RAIL

Columbia

44 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Denmark

51 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Camden

66 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Kingstree

88 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hilton Head and Welcome. Straight-line distance: 204.83 mi (329.65 km).

Hilton Head

#1 Hilton Head

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

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

#2 Welcome

City in Minnesota

Population6,668
Coordinates34.8265100, -82.4390100
Altitude300
CountryUnited States
Start: Hilton Head (-80.75261, 32.21632)
End: Welcome (-82.43901, 34.82651)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 413 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 33m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 25m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 40m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 12m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.06 gal
34.3 L · about $35.89
Round trip
$71.77
18.12 gal · 68.6 L
Estimated CO2
80.5 kg one way
Round trip: 161 kg / 355 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $35.89 $71.77
Mid-grade $4.43 $40.13 $80.25
Premium $4.78 $43.29 $86.58
Diesel $5.62 $50.95 $101.91

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 and Welcome. The current time is 05:26:38.

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.