How far is Surfside Beach, SC from Hilton Head Island, SC?

The driving distance from Surfside Beach, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is about 190.3 miles (306.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 141.4 miles (227.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 40m 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
190.29 mi
03h 50m
Flight
141.44 mi
227.62 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Surfside Beach.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
141.44 mi
Kilometers
227.62 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
190.29 mi
Kilometers
306.25 km
Drive Time
03h 50m

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 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head Island
Fri, May 1, 4:43 PM EDT
Return by in Surfside Beach
Fri, May 1, 8:34 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Surfside Beach
2026-05-01T12:53
Arrive Hilton Head Island
Fri, May 1, 4:43 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:50 AM to 11:50 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
9:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Surfside Beach
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
North Charleston
SC

The second most populous city in Charleston County, South Carolina.

From Surfside Beach
95 mi
01h 55m
To Hilton Head Island
95.3 mi
01h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
Surfside Beach Weather
SC
Live fallback forecast
66°F
Friday
Using Forestbrook as the closest live forecast in the Horry County weather hub.

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph NE
Destination
63°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, May 1 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Surfside Beach and Hilton Head Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Surfside Beach and Hilton Head Island.

  1. 1

    Start on Surfside Drive

    22 m · 8 sec · Surfside Drive

  2. 2

    Continue on Surfside Drive

    1.1 km · 2 min · Surfside Drive

  3. 3

    Turn left onto US 17 Business

    7.6 mi · 11 min · US 17 Business

  4. 4

    Continue on Ocean Highway

    17.4 mi · 25 min · Ocean Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on L. H. Siau Bridge

    1340 ft · 25 sec · L. H. Siau Bridge

  6. 6

    Continue on Church Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Church Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto North Fraser Street

    56 mi · 1 hr 14 min · North Fraser Street

  8. 8

    Continue on North Highway 17

    4.2 mi · 7 min · North Highway 17

  9. 9

    Continue on Septima P. Clark Parkway

    550 ft · 16 sec · Septima P. Clark Parkway

  10. 10

    Continue on Spring Street

    550 ft · 14 sec · Spring Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Spring Street

    1116 ft · 21 sec · Spring Street

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    708 ft · 21 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Savannah Highway

    29.7 mi · 43 min · Savannah Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Ace Basin Parkway

    17.1 mi · 22 min · Ace Basin Parkway

  15. 15

    Continue on Charleston Highway

    5.6 mi · 8 min · Charleston Highway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1220 ft · 33 sec

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Trask Parkway

    63 m · 3 sec · Trask Parkway

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto Trask Parkway

    12 mi · 15 min · Trask Parkway

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Parris Island Gateway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Parris Island Gateway

  20. 20

    Turn slight right onto Robert Smalls Parkway

    3.5 mi · 4 min · Robert Smalls Parkway

  21. 21

    Continue on Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Edward Burton Rodgers Bridge

  22. 22

    Continue on Okatie Highway

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Okatie Highway

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right

    1365 ft · 37 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto Fording Island Road

    9.3 mi · 13 min · Fording Island Road

  25. 25

    Continue on William Hilton Parkway

    3.8 mi · 5 min · William Hilton Parkway

  26. 26

    Keep slight left to continue on Cross Island Parkway

    2.4 mi · 3 min · Cross Island Parkway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right

    2198 ft · 59 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Marshland Road

    2.3 mi · 6 min · Marshland Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Allen Road

    887 ft · 39 sec · Allen Road

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Allen Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Surfside Beach 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
30 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Fraser Street
56 mi · 29%
Savannah Highway
29.7 mi · 16%
Ocean Highway
17.4 mi · 9%
Ace Basin Parkway
17.1 mi · 9%
Okatie Highway
12.6 mi · 7%
Trask Parkway
12 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

North Fraser Street

Turn left onto North Fraser Street

56 mi · 01h 14m

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 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+48.9 mi
141.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
North Charleston
01h 55m from Surfside Beach
Leave By
9:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers leaving Surfside Beach and Chance Rain Showers near Hilton Head Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Surfside Beach to Hilton Head Island?

The road trip is about 190.3 miles (306.2 km) and usually takes 03h 50m 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?

North Charleston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95 miles from Surfside Beach and 95.3 miles from Hilton Head Island.

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

The direct path is about 141.4 miles (227.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 48.9 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 9:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.62 one way or $53.24 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 59.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Chance Rain Showers around Surfside Beach and Chance Rain Showers near Hilton Head Island.

Stop Ideas Near North Charleston

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around North Charleston and the surrounding midpoint area.
Historic Charleston City Market
Scenic stop 8.4 mi away

Historic Charleston City Market

Charleston , SC
188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Rating 4.5/5 18,143 reviews Tourist attraction,Historical landmark,Market
City of North Charleston City Hall
Meeting point 6.7 mi away

City of North Charleston City Hall

North Charleston , SC
2500 City Hall Ln, North Charleston, SC 29406
Rating 4.3/5 44 reviews City Hall,City government office
American Red Cross
Nearby stop 6.6 mi away

American Red Cross

North Charleston , SC
2424- A, City Hall Ln, North Charleston, SC 29406
Rating 4.4/5 21 reviews Non-profit organization,Charity,Volunteer organization
Charleston County Parking Garage
Scenic stop 8.4 mi away

Charleston County Parking Garage

Charleston , SC
85 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
Rating 4.3/5 78 reviews Parking garage

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to North Charleston.

RAIL

Charleston, South Carolina

3 mi away
4565 Gaynor Avenue
RAIL

Yemassee

84 mi away
9 Main Street
RAIL

Kingstree

91 mi away
101 East Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Surfside Beach and Hilton Head Island. Straight-line distance: 141.44 mi (227.62 km).

Surfside Beach

#1 Surfside Beach

City in Horry County, South Carolina, United States

Population4,580
Coordinates33.6060000, -78.9730900
Altitude3
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: Surfside Drive (-78.973062, 33.606027)
End: Allen Road (-80.737481, 32.193969)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 306 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 43m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 22m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.72 gal
25.42 L · about $26.62
Round trip
$53.24
13.44 gal · 50.84 L
Estimated CO2
59.7 kg one way
Round trip: 119.4 kg / 263 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.62 $53.24
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.76 $59.53
Premium $4.78 $32.11 $64.22
Diesel $5.62 $37.79 $75.59

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 · May 01, 2026

There is no time difference between Surfside Beach and Hilton Head Island. The current time is 12:53:39.

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.