You’re sitting on a porch in Sea Pines, maybe sipping something cold, and you realize you’ve run out of hushpuppies. Or perhaps the quiet of the island is starting to feel a little too quiet. You want the Spanish moss, the ghosts, and the gritty charm of River Street. So you pull out your phone. You type in the search bar: how far from Hilton Head to Savannah?
The screen blinks back a number. Usually, it says 31 miles.
But distance in the Lowcountry is a funny thing. It’s not just about the odometer. It’s about the tide, the drawbridge on the Talmadge Memorial, and whether or not a landscaping truck has decided to stall out on Fording Island Road. If you’re just looking for a raw number, it’s about 30 to 40 miles depending on which end of the island you’re starting from.
Drive it. You’ll see.
The Actual Mileage Breakdown
If you are staying at the north end of Hilton Head, near Hilton Head Plantation or the airport, you’re looking at roughly 35 miles to downtown Savannah. If you’re at the south end near Coligny Beach, the mileage drops slightly, but the time often increases because you have to navigate the island’s internal traffic first.
Basically, you’re looking at a 45-minute drive on a "perfect" day.
What’s a perfect day? It’s a Tuesday in February at 10:30 AM. If you try to make this trip on a Saturday in July at 4:00 PM, that 31-mile stretch will feel like an odyssey across the Sahara. You'll spend more time staring at the bumper of a minivan from Ohio than you will looking at the scenery.
The route is straightforward. You take US-278 West off the island. This is the only way out by car. You’ll cross the bridges over the Intracoastal Waterway—keep an eye out for dolphins, they actually hang out there—and then you’ll eventually hit SC-170 or stay on 278 to merge onto I-95 South. Most locals prefer taking SC-170 through Bluffton and hitting GA-25 because it feels more like a drive and less like a highway slog.
Why the "Direct" Route Isn't Always Fastest
Google Maps loves to send people down I-95. It makes sense on paper. I-95 is a straight shot. But I-95 in this specific corridor is notorious. Between the Georgia border and the Savannah exits, the "21 South" congestion can be brutal.
Honestly, taking the "back way" through Hardeeville via SC-170 and then jumping onto US-17 South is often the better move. You get to see the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. It’s eerie. It’s beautiful. It’s full of alligators that look like logs until they blink.
Is it shorter? No. It’s actually a few miles longer. But it’s a more consistent drive. You aren't at the mercy of a three-car pileup on the interstate.
The Boat Option: Distance by Water
Let's talk about the water.
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Savannah and Hilton Head are essentially neighbors separated by a series of winding tidal creeks, rivers, and the Calibogue Sound. If you look at a map, they are incredibly close. If you were a crow, you’d only fly about 20 miles.
You can actually take a ferry. The Spirit of Harbour Town runs a seasonal service. It’s a roughly 90-minute ride.
Wait. Why is a boat ride longer than a car ride if the distance is shorter?
Because the ocean doesn't go in a straight line. The boat has to navigate the shifting sands of the Calibogue Sound, skirt around Daufuskie Island—which, by the way, has no bridge and is worth its own trip—and then head up the Savannah River.
The river portion is fascinating. You’re dwarfed by massive container ships heading to the Port of Savannah. These things are the size of floating skyscrapers. Seeing them from the water gives you a perspective on how far from Hilton Head to Savannah you actually are in terms of industry versus resort life. One side is golf courses and overpriced salad; the other is a global shipping hub that smells like diesel and history.
Hidden Factors: Parking and Pedestrians
When people ask about the distance, they usually mean: "When will I be standing in front of The Olde Pink House with a drink in my hand?"
Getting to Savannah is one thing. Getting into Savannah is another.
Savannah is a grid. It’s a beautiful, Oglethorpe-designed masterpiece of squares and parks. But that means stop signs. It means tourists wandering into the street while looking at architecture. It means searching for a parking garage because street parking is a myth during peak hours.
Add 15 minutes to your "arrival time" just for the "Savannah factor."
If you’re coming from Hilton Head, you’ll likely enter via the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. The view from the top is spectacular. You can see the entire historic district and the winding river below. But be warned: the descent drops you right into the heart of the traffic.
Comparing the Trip to Other Lowcountry Treks
To put the Hilton Head to Savannah distance in context, consider these other common drives:
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- Hilton Head to Beaufort: About 35 miles. Similar distance, but a much more rural, quiet drive through the marshes.
- Hilton Head to Charleston: About 100 miles. This is a two-hour commitment. You can’t "pop over" to Charleston for lunch the way you can with Savannah.
- Hilton Head to Bluffton: 5 to 10 miles. This is basically your backyard. If you don’t want to go all the way to Georgia, Bluffton’s Old Town offers a similar "mossy" vibe without the bridge tolls or the interstate.
Common Misconceptions About the Journey
A lot of visitors think there is a bridge connecting the south end of Hilton Head directly to the islands near Savannah (like Tybee Island).
There isn't.
Looking across the water from South Beach in Sea Pines, you can practically see Georgia. It looks so close you could swim it. Don't. The currents in the Sound are treacherous, and the shark population is, let's say, "healthy."
To get to Tybee Island from Hilton Head, you have to drive all the way out to the mainland, around Savannah, and back out to the coast. That "short" distance across the water turns into a 55-mile, 75-minute car trek.
Another mistake? Ignoring the time of day.
Commuter traffic is real. Thousands of people live in Savannah or Bluffton and work on Hilton Head. If you try to leave the island at 5:00 PM, you will be crawling. The "distance" doesn't change, but the "time" doubles.
Making the Most of the 31 Miles
Since you’re making the trip, don't just blast through it.
Stop in Bluffton. Check out the Church of the Cross. It’s a wooden structure from 1854 that somehow survived the Civil War. It sits right on the edge of the May River.
Or, if you’re taking the Hardeeville route, stop at a roadside stand for boiled peanuts. If you haven't had them, they’re salty, mushy, and strangely addictive. It’s the official snack of the SC-GA border.
What to Pack for the Drive
You don't need much, but a few things help.
- Small bills: If you end up parking in a private lot in Savannah, sometimes they prefer cash, though most are app-based now.
- Patience: Especially on US-278.
- A playlist: 45 minutes is the perfect length for a solid podcast or about 12 songs.
Nuance in the Numbers: North vs. South Island
Where you stay on Hilton Head matters immensely.
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If you are staying in Palmetto Dunes, you are centrally located. Your drive to the Savannah Riverfront will be almost exactly 38 miles.
If you are staying in Port Royal, you're further north. Your drive might be 42 miles.
If you're in Sea Pines, you're the closest geographically, but you have the longest "exit time" because you have to drive through the plantation and then navigate the traffic circles (roundabouts) that define the south end.
Roundabouts are a way of life here. If you aren't comfortable with them, the "distance" will feel much more stressful. Locals fly through them; tourists tend to hesitate. Tip: just keep moving and look left.
The Cost of the Trip
Gas is one thing. But there are no tolls anymore on the Cross Island Parkway (as of 2021). That’s a relief.
The real cost is your time.
If you take the ferry, it’s about $60-$80 round trip per person. It’s pricey, but you aren't paying for transportation—you’re paying for a boat tour. If you drive, it’s just the cost of a gallon or two of gas and whatever you spend on parking.
Savannah parking garages like the "Bryan Street Parking Garage" or the "Eastern Wharf" are generally your best bets. They’re safe, shaded, and put you within walking distance of the best parts of the city.
Final Logistics Check
So, how far from Hilton Head to Savannah?
It’s 31 miles from "Welcome to Hilton Head" sign to "Welcome to Savannah" sign.
It’s 45 minutes of your life.
It’s a transition from the manicured, gated perfection of a resort island to the haunted, historic, and slightly wild streets of one of America’s oldest cities.
Actionable Steps for Your Trip
- Check the "Talmadge Bridge" status on a traffic app before you leave. If there’s an accident on the bridge, your 45-minute trip becomes two hours.
- Leave Hilton Head either before 7:30 AM or after 9:30 AM to avoid the morning "inbound" work rush.
- If you’re driving back to the island in the evening, try to finish your Savannah dinner before 9:00 PM. The drive back on US-278 can get very dark, and the deer in Beaufort County are famously suicidal.
- Set your GPS specifically for "City Market, Savannah" rather than just "Savannah." It will take you to a central location where parking is plentiful.
- Check the weather for both locations. It can be sunny on the beach in Hilton Head and pouring rain in the Savannah squares due to the way storms roll off the mainland.
The drive is easy, the distance is short, and the reward is a city that feels like another world entirely. Don't overthink the miles; just watch out for the log-shaped alligators on US-17.