Savannah, GA to Hilton Head, SC: The Drive and the Airport

From downtown Savannah it is about 29 miles to the bridges onto Hilton Head, and about 39 miles to Coligny and the beaches at the south end: 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter in light traffic. The distance from Savannah, Georgia to Hilton Head, South Carolina depends mostly on where on the island you are going, since the island itself is 12 miles long.

The drive from Savannah to Hilton Head starts over the Talmadge Memorial Bridge on US 17, into South Carolina. Follow SC 170 north and then US 278 east, which runs straight onto the island past Bluffton. I-95 north to exit 8 and US 278 is the other way, a little longer. Once you are on the island, the Hilton Head Island map shows where everything is.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, SAV, sits on the west side of Savannah, closer to I-95 than to downtown. From the terminal it is about 39 miles to the bridges and 48 to Coligny, 50 minutes to an hour and ten minutes by car. Most visitors pick up a rental car at SAV; if you would rather not drive, cabs, ride-share and pre-booked shuttles make the run, compared on our Hilton Head transportation page.

Hilton Head also has its own small airport, on the north end of the island, with fewer flights: see Hilton Head Island Airport. Flying into Savannah and driving the last hour is often the cheaper way.

You can drive onto Hilton Head Island: the bridges carry US 278 over the marsh from the mainland, and it is the only road on. That is why timing matters. Saturday is changeover day for most vacation rentals, and in summer the traffic onto the island backs up from late morning to late afternoon. Weekday evening rush hour is the other slow time. Arriving before 11 or after 6 is usually easy.

Check-in at most rentals is in the afternoon, so an early arrival from Savannah is a good excuse for lunch and a first look at the beach before you pick up the keys.

A day trip to Hilton Head from Savannah is mostly about the beach. Coligny Beach Park, at the south end, has public parking, restrooms and outdoor showers, with Coligny Plaza’s shops and restaurants a short walk away; read the Coligny beach parking guide before you go, including what to do when the lot is full. Bring bikes if you can: the beach is hard-packed at low tide and good for riding.

In the afternoon, Harbour Town in Sea Pines has the red-and-white lighthouse, the yacht basin and the shops around it; driving into Sea Pines costs $10 for the day. Shelter Cove, mid-island, has waterfront restaurants and summer concerts. Stay for dinner and drive back after the evening traffic has cleared.

Going the other way, from Hilton Head for a day in Savannah? See Hilton Head to Savannah, including the ferry to River Street. Coming from farther away? See how to get to Hilton Head for drive times from 18 cities.