Getting to Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is accessible by air, highway, train or boat.

By automobile, get on I-95 and go to exit 8 (mile 8 from the GA border). Please ignore signs at other exits designed to direct you through commercial areas. Exit there and travel East, following the signs to Hilton Head.  You will be on US 278 at this point.  Go about 18 miles and you will cross the bridge to Hilton Head. Beware of "welcome centers" off island, which are not official. They are there to sell you something. Continue over the bridge and look for signs for the Cross Island Expressway.  If you are going to the south end of the island (Shipyard, Coligny, Forest Beach, Sea Pines) stay to your left and use the expressway (Toll $1until 03/31/08, $1.25 after that)) to save time and gasoline.  Otherwise, keep right and stay on Business 278. Map of Hilton Head.

Expressway

The Cross Island Expressway ends shortly after the toll booth at a bridge crossing Broad Creek.  It becomes Palmetto Bay Road (watch your speed - it is patrolled).  Continue on Palmetto Bay Road until you get to Sea Pines Circle.  At this point you will exit the circle at different roads depending on where you are going.

Business 278

Continue on Bus. 278 for about 10 miles to Sea Pines Circle.  You will exit the circle at different roads depending on where you are going.

A word of warning: many parts of the island restrict or prohibit such vehicles as motorcycles, trailers, motor homes and vehicles with signage on them. If this describes your mode of transportation make sure you have made arrangements in advance.

Hilton Head's Infamous Traffic Circles

First time visitors are often intimidated by traffic circles because they are uncommon in other parts of the country.  The two circles you are most likely to encounter are Sea Pines circle and Coligny circle.  Two things to know about either circle: never drive in the innermost lane; and if you are confused about where to exit, keep in mind it's a circle and you can go around until you decide. In either circle, if you enter from the right lane of the approach road you will be forced to exit at the first exit, so always enter from the left lane until you become familiar with the system.

Each circle has four "spokes": the one on which you approached, the next one is the same as a right turn, the next is the same as going straight, and the next is equivalent to a left turn.  All traffic moves counter-clockwise.

Arriving by Air

Hilton Head has an airport that can handle general aviation and commuter type aircraft. At this writing, US Air Express (from Charlotte-Douglas) is the only airline serving Hilton Head. My personal preference is to fly into Savannah, GA, which can accommodate aircraft that are not as affected by weather. Savannah is a short drive (about 50 minutes) from Hilton Head and offers car rentals and limo service to the island (Low Country Adventures, for one). Generally, the extra cost to fly direct to Hilton Head is close to the cost of the limo. Airlines serving Savannah are: Delta, US Airways, Air Tran,  Continental Express, Delta Connection, United Express and Continental.

Arriving by Train

Amtrak offers service to Savannah and they have a partnership with Hertz for a car rental. Make the arrangements in advance with Amtrak and Hertz will provide transportation to their airport location to pick up a rental car. The car can be returned at the Amtrak station. With thanks to Barb W.

Arriving by Boat

Hilton Head is on the Intracoastal Waterway and thus is easily accessible by boat. Make sure you have made advance reservations for a place to dock. Not all marinas accommodate transient boaters and those that do are booked up well in advance.

                                                  List of marinas and phone numbers.