There are a lot of different ways to drive to Hilton Head. We often try out a different road. This month’s GO Magazine from AAA has an article, Escape to the Coast This Fall, that suggests different drives. It recommends the Hilton Head Scenic Byway. We never noticed any signs, but we will look for them.
The Hilton Head Island Scenic Byway (US 278) begins at SC 170 near Okatie and continues through Beaufort County until it ends at Sea Pines Circle on Hilton Head Island – a 22-mile journey. Though heavily traveled, the multi-lane highway offers wonderful views of the Lowcountry, as it passes through wild wetlands, canopied by huge live oaks draped in Spanish moss and quaint historic villages such as Bluffton before crossing the causeway onto Hilton Head Island. Known for its wide beaches and upscale resorts, the island is a vacation paradise for golfers, tennis buffs and water sports enthusiasts who also enjoy shopping, dining and participating in cultural activities. Foodies are not disappointed in the offerings at The Crazy Crab at Jarvis Creek or Harbour Town and Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar, standouts among the island’s over 250 restaurants.
Escape to the Coast This Fall
GO Magazine September – October 2017
Update: This is the same route we have always taken. It is pretty much the only way onto the island. I was wondering what we could have missed.
It is a really busy road. Really. But the view as you go over the bridge is spectacular. The “scenic” version is to avoid the toll road.
This scenic byway is a 22 mile route located in Beaufort County. It begins at SC 170 at the Jasper County line and continues to the end of US 278 at Sea Pines Circle on Hilton Head Island.
It is a busy, but attractive multi-lane highway with landscaped medians, panoramic vistas and well-kept rights of way. Commercial development has mushroomed in recent years, but local ordinances have limited the impact by requiring set-backs, sign sizes/locations, and density limits.
