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

The driving distance from Pendleton, SC to Hilton Head, SC is about 272.7 miles (438.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 205 miles (329.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 44m 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
272.66 mi
05h 22m
Flight
205 mi
329.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pendleton.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
205 mi
Kilometers
329.92 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
272.66 mi
Kilometers
438.8 km
Drive Time
05h 22m

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 05h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head
Wed, Apr 15, 3:46 PM EDT
Return by in Pendleton
Wed, Apr 15, 9:09 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pendleton
2026-04-15T10:24
Arrive Hilton Head
Wed, Apr 15, 3:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:22 AM to 1:22 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
6:16 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pendleton
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
Gaston
SC

Human settlement in Lexington County, South Carolina, United States of America

From Pendleton
136.4 mi
02h 41m
To Hilton Head
136.3 mi
02h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 4:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph WSW
Destination
81°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Queen Street

    1578 ft · 39 sec · East Queen Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Greenville Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Greenville Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Old Greenville Highway

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Old Greenville Highway

  4. 4

    Continue on Highway 88

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Highway 88

  5. 5

    Continue on Old Greenville Highway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Old Greenville Highway

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Old Greenville Highway

    40 m · 2 sec · Old Greenville Highway

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Greenville Highway

    6.9 mi · 10 min · Old Greenville Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Moore Road

    1.8 mi · 4 min · Moore Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Major Road

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Major Road

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 86

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 86

  11. 11

    Continue on Anderson Street

    1 mi · 2 min · Anderson Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Main Street

    2759 ft · 1 min · Main Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Piedmont Highway

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Piedmont Highway

  14. 14

    Take the ramp straight

    1.1 km · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Southern Connector

    8.8 mi · 10 min · Southern Connector

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward I 385 South: Columbia

    3014 ft · 1 min

  17. 17

    Merge slight right

    1140 ft · 14 sec

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Golden Strip Freeway

    29.8 mi · 32 min · Golden Strip Freeway

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

    60.2 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah

    1.4 km · 2 min

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

    1478 ft · 37 sec

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  25. 25

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Okatie Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 min · Okatie Highway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    1365 ft · 37 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  29. 29

    Continue on William Hilton Parkway

    3.4 mi · 4 min · William Hilton Parkway

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · William Hilton Parkway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pendleton 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
30 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
6 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Golden Strip Freeway
85.5 mi · 31%
Charleston
60.2 mi · 22%
I 95 South
57.4 mi · 21%
Old Greenville Highway
12.4 mi · 5%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.58 mi · 4%
Fording Island Road
9.26 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Charleston

Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

60.2 mi · 01h 06m

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
05h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+67.7 mi
205 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gaston
02h 41m from Pendleton
Leave By
6:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Pendleton and Sunny near Hilton Head.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 272.7 miles (438.8 km) and usually takes 05h 22m 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?

Gaston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 136.4 miles from Pendleton and 136.3 miles from Hilton Head.

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

The direct path is about 205 miles (329.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 67.7 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 6:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.10 one way or $76.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Pendleton and Sunny near Hilton Head.

Stop Ideas Near Gaston

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

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

RAIL

Columbia

20 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Denmark

55 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Camden

65 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Kingstree

119 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pendleton and Hilton Head. Straight-line distance: 205 mi (329.92 km).

Pendleton

#1 Pendleton

Town in South Carolina, USA

Population3,313
Coordinates34.6517700, -82.7837500
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Hilton Head

#2 Hilton Head

Resort town in South Carolina, USA

Population37,099
Coordinates32.2163200, -80.7526100
Altitude3
CountryUnited States
Start: Pendleton (-82.78375, 34.65177)
End: Hilton Head (-80.75261, 32.21632)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 439 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 53m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.62 gal
36.42 L · about $38.10
Round trip
$76.21
19.24 gal · 72.84 L
Estimated CO2
85.5 kg one way
Round trip: 171 kg / 377 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $38.10 $76.21
Mid-grade $4.43 $42.61 $85.21
Premium $4.78 $45.96 $91.93
Diesel $5.62 $54.10 $108.21

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Pendleton and Hilton Head. The current time is 10:24:42.

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.