How far is Laurel Bay, SC from Hilton Head Island, SC?

The driving distance from Laurel Bay, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 17.9 miles (28.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 53m 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
38.43 mi
00h 56m
Flight
17.92 mi
28.84 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Laurel Bay.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
17.92 mi
Kilometers
28.84 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
38.43 mi
Kilometers
61.85 km
Drive Time
00h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head Island
Thu, Apr 23, 12:25 AM EDT
Return by in Laurel Bay
Thu, Apr 23, 1:21 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Laurel Bay
2026-04-22T23:28
Arrive Hilton Head Island
Thu, Apr 23, 12:25 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:57 AM to 10:57 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:36 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Laurel Bay
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
Bluffton
SC

Town in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States

From Laurel Bay
19.2 mi
00h 28m
To Hilton Head Island
19.2 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 9 mph S
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 9 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Laurel Bay and Hilton Head Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Laurel Bay and Hilton Head Island.

  1. 1

    Start on Morrall Drive

    641 ft · 28 sec · Morrall Drive

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Joe Frazier Road

    12 m · 1 sec · Joe Frazier Road

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto Joe Frazier Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Joe Frazier Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Needles Road

    955 ft · 34 sec · Needles Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Cherokee Farms Road

    1146 ft · 18 sec · Cherokee Farms Road

  6. 6

    Turn straight onto Joe Frazier Road

    1.1 mi · 3 min · Joe Frazier Road

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Broad River Boulevard

    1254 ft · 36 sec · Broad River Boulevard

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Castle Rock Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Castle Rock Road

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Robert Smalls Parkway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Robert Smalls Parkway

  10. 10

    Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

  11. 11

    Continue on Okatie Highway

    12.3 mi · 14 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 Laurel Bay and Hilton Head Island.

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
19 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Okatie Highway
12.6 mi · 33%
Fording Island Road
9.26 mi · 24%
William Hilton Parkway
3.8 mi · 10%
Cross Island Parkway
2.78 mi · 7%
Joe Frazier Road
2.53 mi · 7%
Marshland Road
2.32 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Okatie Highway

Continue on Okatie Highway

12.3 mi · 00h 14m

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
00h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+20.6 mi
17.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Bluffton
00h 28m from Laurel Bay
Leave By
4:36 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Laurel Bay and Partly 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 Laurel Bay to Hilton Head Island?

The road trip is about 38.5 miles (61.9 km) and usually takes 00h 56m 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?

Bluffton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 19.2 miles from Laurel Bay and 19.2 miles from Hilton Head Island.

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

The direct path is about 17.9 miles (28.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 20.6 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 4:36 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.39 one way or $10.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Laurel Bay and Partly Sunny near Hilton Head Island.

Stop Ideas Near Bluffton

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

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

RAIL

Savannah

32 mi away
2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive
RAIL

Yemassee

50 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

108 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue
RAIL

Jesup

119 mi away
176 Northwest Broad Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Laurel Bay and Hilton Head Island. Straight-line distance: 17.92 mi (28.84 km).

Laurel Bay

#1 Laurel Bay

Census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina

Population5,891
Coordinates32.4501900, -80.7848300
Altitude11
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: Laurel Bay (-80.78483, 32.45019)
End: Hilton Head Island (-80.73816, 32.19382)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 62 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 32m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.36 gal
5.13 L · about $5.39
Round trip
$10.77
2.72 gal · 10.26 L
Estimated CO2
12.1 kg one way
Round trip: 24.2 kg / 53 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $5.39 $10.77
Mid-grade $4.43 $6.02 $12.05
Premium $4.78 $6.50 $13.00
Diesel $5.62 $7.65 $15.30

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 Laurel Bay and Hilton Head Island. The current time is 23:28:27.

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.