How far is Ware Shoals, SC from Hilton Head Island, SC?

The driving distance from Ware Shoals, SC to Hilton Head Island, SC is about 241 miles (387.9 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 175.5 miles (282.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 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
241.05 mi
04h 52m
Flight
175.48 mi
282.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ware Shoals.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
175.48 mi
Kilometers
282.4 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
241.05 mi
Kilometers
387.94 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

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 04h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hilton Head Island
Sun, Apr 19, 12:20 PM EDT
Return by in Ware Shoals
Sun, Apr 19, 5:13 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ware Shoals
2026-04-19T07:28
Arrive Hilton Head Island
Sun, Apr 19, 12:20 PM EDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 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
7:16 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ware Shoals
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Brookdale
SC

Census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California

From Ware Shoals
120.6 mi
02h 26m
To Hilton Head Island
120.5 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 12 mph NW
Destination
83°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ware Shoals and Hilton Head Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ware Shoals and Hilton Head Island.

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    26 m · 8 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn slight left onto Saluda Avenue

    5.6 mi · 10 min · Saluda Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Highway 252

    8.3 mi · 15 min · Highway 252

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Highway 76 West

    1456 ft · 27 sec · Highway 76 West

  5. 5

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn slight left onto Anderson Drive

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Anderson Drive

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Church Street

    1129 ft · 30 sec · Church Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Hillcrest Drive

    1.2 km · 2 min · Hillcrest Drive

  9. 9

    Turn left onto North Harper Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · North Harper Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Lucas Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lucas Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Yarborough Mill Road

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Yarborough Mill Road

  12. 12

    Continue on State Highway 49

    1.3 km · 1 min · State Highway 49

  13. 13

    Take the ramp right toward I 385 South

    1084 ft · 26 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    5.1 mi · 5 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    55.8 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on Charleston

    60.2 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Savannah

    1.4 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left

    56.6 mi · 1 hr 1 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward SC 462: Coosawhatchie

    1478 ft · 37 sec

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Coosaw Scenic Drive

    9.6 mi · 13 min · Coosaw Scenic Drive

  21. 21

    Continue on Lowcountry Drive

    7.9 mi · 11 min · Lowcountry Drive

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Okatie Highway

    4.2 mi · 5 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 Ware Shoals 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
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
4 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 385 South
61.1 mi · 25%
Charleston
60.2 mi · 25%
I 95 South
57.4 mi · 24%
Coosaw Scenic Drive
9.58 mi · 4%
Fording Island Road
9.26 mi · 4%
Highway 252
8.28 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
04h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+65.5 mi
175.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brookdale
02h 26m from Ware Shoals
Leave By
7:16 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Ware Shoals and Partly Sunny then Slight 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 Ware Shoals to Hilton Head Island?

The road trip is about 241 miles (387.9 km) and usually takes 04h 52m 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?

Brookdale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.6 miles from Ware Shoals and 120.5 miles from Hilton Head Island.

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

The direct path is about 175.5 miles (282.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 65.5 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 7:16 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.71 one way or $67.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Ware Shoals and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Hilton Head Island.

Stop Ideas Near Brookdale

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

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

RAIL

Denmark

36 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Columbia

58 mi away
850 Pulaski Street
RAIL

Camden

84 mi away
1060 West Dekalb Street
RAIL

Yemassee

91 mi away
9 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ware Shoals and Hilton Head Island. Straight-line distance: 175.48 mi (282.4 km).

Ware Shoals

#1 Ware Shoals

City in South Carolina, United States of America

Population2,152
Coordinates34.3984500, -82.2467900
Altitude192
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: Ware Shoals (-82.24679, 34.39845)
End: Hilton Head Island (-80.73816, 32.19382)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 388 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 01m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.51 gal
32.2 L · about $33.71
Round trip
$67.42
17.02 gal · 64.4 L
Estimated CO2
75.6 kg one way
Round trip: 151.3 kg / 334 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $33.71 $67.42
Mid-grade $4.43 $37.69 $75.38
Premium $4.78 $40.66 $81.32
Diesel $5.62 $47.86 $95.72

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 Ware Shoals and Hilton Head Island. The current time is 07:28:15.

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.