Hilton Head Island to Charleston, SC: A Day Trip
Charleston is about 100 miles from Hilton Head, a little over two hours up the coast on US 17: a long day trip, but a good one, to Rainbow Row, the Battery, the City Market and the boat to Fort Sumter.
Going the other way? Charleston to Hilton Head
How Far Is Charleston from Hilton Head?
From Coligny it is about 105 miles to downtown Charleston, 2 hours 15 minutes without traffic; from the bridges at the north end it is about 96 miles and two hours. So the distance from Hilton Head to Charleston, SC is about 100 miles, and the drive is a little over two hours each way.
The quickest way is US 17, the old coast road: off the island on US 278, then north to US 17, which runs up through the marshes and rivers of the ACE Basin and into Charleston over the Ashley River. I-95 looks faster on a map but is about 17 miles and 20 minutes longer. Just off US 17 near Yemassee, the brick columns of the Old Sheldon Church Ruins make a free 20-minute stop on the way; it is on our Beaufort day trip page.
What to See on a Charleston Day Trip
The row of pastel 18th-century houses on East Bay Street. A quick, free stop; go in the morning, when the street is quiet.
The Pineapple Fountain, shaded swings on the pier and a view across the harbor to Fort Sumter. Free, and a good place to sit down.
The park at the tip of the peninsula, beside the Battery seawall and its grand houses. Live oaks, cannon and the harbor breeze.
Four blocks of market sheds and halls, known for Gullah sweetgrass baskets made by the people selling them.
Where the boats to Fort Sumter leave, at Liberty Square, with exhibits on the start of the Civil War.
The heart of Charleston is small enough to walk. From the City Market on Meeting Street, head east to the harbor and Waterfront Park, then south along East Bay Street past Rainbow Row to the Battery and White Point Garden: about a mile and a quarter, all of it past old houses, church steeples and gardens behind iron gates. King Street, a few blocks west, is the shopping street.
Fort Sumter in a Day
The first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, on an island at the mouth of Charleston Harbor, and the only way there is the park’s boat. It leaves from Liberty Square downtown, and from Patriots Point across the harbor in Mount Pleasant. The trip takes about two and a half hours, with about an hour on the fort, and rangers tell the story on the way out.
On a day trip from Hilton Head, take a boat from Liberty Square in the middle of the day and walk the rest of the city before and after. Buy tickets ahead from Fort Sumter Tours, the park’s ferry company: boats fill up, and there are only a few departures a day.
Where to Park in Charleston
The easiest place to leave the car for the day is the garage at the Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting Street, with its entrance on Ann Street. It is open around the clock, and the free DASH trolley runs from there around the peninsula, so you can ride down to the market and walk back. Street parking downtown is metered and hard to find. Read the posted rates where you park.
A Day in Charleston from Hilton Head Island
You are in Charleston by about 10, before the midday crowds, with time for a stop at Old Sheldon Church on the way.
Park at the Visitor Center, take the DASH trolley to the City Market, and walk to Waterfront Park and Rainbow Row.
Lunch, then the Fort Sumter boat from Liberty Square, or the Battery and White Point Garden if you skip the fort.
Dinner downtown, then the drive home after 7, when the traffic has thinned. Plan on a 12-hour day.
Coming the other way, from Charleston to stay on Hilton Head? See Charleston to Hilton Head. Shorter day trips from the island: Savannah, about an hour, and Beaufort, under an hour; all of them are on day trips from Hilton Head.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Charleston from Hilton Head?
About 100 miles: 96 from the bridges at the north end of Hilton Head and 105 from Coligny, two hours to two and a quarter by car on US 17 without heavy traffic.
What is the best route from Hilton Head to Charleston?
US 17, up the coast through the ACE Basin. I-95 is about 17 miles and 20 minutes longer.
Is Charleston worth a day trip from Hilton Head?
Yes, if you leave early. It is a 12-hour day with four and a half hours of driving, but the historic district is walkable and you can see Rainbow Row, the Battery and the City Market in an afternoon. Savannah is the shorter trip, at about an hour each way.
Where should I park in Charleston for the day?
The Charleston Visitor Center garage at 375 Meeting Street, entrance on Ann Street. The free DASH trolley runs from there around downtown.
Can you see Fort Sumter on a day trip from Hilton Head?
Yes. The boat from Liberty Square takes about two and a half hours round trip, with an hour on the fort. Book ahead with Fort Sumter Tours.
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