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

The driving distance from Lake City, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is about 167.4 miles (269.4 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 129.1 miles (207.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 42m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
167.37 mi
02h 51m
Flight
129.11 mi
207.78 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lake City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
129.11 mi
Kilometers
207.78 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
167.37 mi
Kilometers
269.36 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

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 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head Island
Sun, Apr 19, 1:05 AM EDT
Return by in Lake City
Sun, Apr 19, 3:56 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lake City
2026-04-18T22:14
Arrive Hilton Head Island
Sun, Apr 19, 1:05 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:51 AM to 12:51 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:48 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lake City
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
83.9 mi
01h 25m
To Hilton Head Island
83.5 mi
01h 25m

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
85°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    3.8 mi · 5 min · William Hilton Parkway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Cross Island Parkway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    2198 ft · 59 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Marshland Road

    2.3 mi · 6 min · Marshland Road

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Allen Road

    887 ft · 39 sec · Allen Road

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Allen Road

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
107 mi · 64%
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%
William Hilton Parkway
3.8 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 comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.3 mi
129.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saint George
01h 25m from Lake City
Leave By
12:48 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

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

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 Island?

The road trip is about 167.4 miles (269.4 km) and usually takes 02h 51m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Saint George is a useful midpoint, sitting about 83.9 miles from Lake City and 83.5 miles from Hilton Head Island.

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

The direct path is about 129.1 miles (207.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:48 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.41 one way or $46.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 52.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Island. Straight-line distance: 129.11 mi (207.78 km).

Lake City

#1 Lake City

City in South Carolina, USA

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

#2 Hilton Head Island

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population39,619
Coordinates32.1938200, -80.7381600
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: South Acline Avenue (-79.755322, 33.870993)
End: Allen Road (-80.737481, 32.193969)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 269 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 11m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 20m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 05m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.91 gal
22.36 L · about $23.41
Round trip
$46.82
11.82 gal · 44.72 L
Estimated CO2
52.5 kg one way
Round trip: 105 kg / 231 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.41 $46.82
Mid-grade $4.43 $26.18 $52.35
Premium $4.78 $28.24 $56.48
Diesel $5.62 $33.24 $66.48

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 Island. The current time is 22:14:05.

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.