How far is Lake City, SC from Hilton Head, SC?

The driving distance from Lake City, SC to Hilton Head, SC is about 162.1 miles (260.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 128.1 miles (206.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 20m 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
162.08 mi
03h 10m
Flight
128.09 mi
206.14 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
128.09 mi
Kilometers
206.14 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
162.08 mi
Kilometers
260.85 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 03h 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head
Sun, Apr 19, 1:15 AM EDT
Return by in Lake City
Sun, Apr 19, 4:25 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake City
2026-04-18T22:05
Arrive Hilton Head
Sun, Apr 19, 1:15 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:10 AM to 11:10 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:40 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake City
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 George
SC

Town in South Carolina

From Lake City
81.1 mi
01h 35m
To Hilton Head
81 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
94°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph SW
Destination
86°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lake City and Hilton Head.

  1. 1

    Start on South Acline Avenue

    732 ft · 20 sec · South Acline Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left

    13.4 mi · 17 min

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Clarence Coker Highway

    3.5 mi · 5 min · Clarence Coker Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Myrtle Beach Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Myrtle Beach Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit left toward I 95 South: Savannah

    1639 ft · 40 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    106.3 mi · 1 hr 54 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

    1478 ft · 37 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  10. 10

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Okatie Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    1365 ft · 37 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  14. 14

    Continue on William Hilton Parkway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · William Hilton Parkway

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
107 mi · 66%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.58 mi · 6%
Fording Island Road
9.26 mi · 6%
Lowcountry Drive
7.89 mi · 5%
Okatie Highway
4.43 mi · 3%
Clarence Coker Highway
3.46 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

106 mi · 01h 54m

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
03h 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34 mi
128.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint George
01h 35m from Lake City
Leave By
10:40 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Lake City and Mostly Sunny near Hilton Head.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lake City to Hilton Head?

The road trip is about 162.1 miles (260.9 km) and usually takes 03h 10m 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 George is a useful midpoint, sitting about 81.1 miles from Lake City and 81 miles from Hilton Head.

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

The direct path is about 128.1 miles (206.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 34 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 10:40 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.66 one way or $45.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Lake City and Mostly Sunny near Hilton Head.

Stop Ideas Near Saint George

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

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

RAIL

Denmark

55 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Yemassee

61 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

64 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue
RAIL

Kingstree

87 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lake City and Hilton Head. Straight-line distance: 128.09 mi (206.14 km).

Lake City

#1 Lake City

City in South Carolina, USA

Population6,497
Coordinates33.8710000, -79.7553500
Altitude23
CountryUnited States
Hilton Head

#2 Hilton Head

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population37,099
Coordinates32.2163200, -80.7526100
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Lake City (-79.75535, 33.871)
End: Hilton Head (-80.75261, 32.21632)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 261 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 03m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 01m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.72 gal
21.65 L · about $22.66
Round trip
$45.31
11.44 gal · 43.3 L
Estimated CO2
50.8 kg one way
Round trip: 101.7 kg / 224 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.66 $45.31
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.33 $50.67
Premium $4.78 $27.33 $54.66
Diesel $5.62 $32.17 $64.34

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 Lake City and Hilton Head. The current time is 22:05:45.

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.