Planning a Trip

Getting There

It's easy to fly into Savannah, rent a car, and drive to Hilton Head (about 65 miles north of Savannah). If you're driving from other points south or north, exit I-95 to reach the island (exit 8 off I-95). U.S. 278 leads over the bridge to the island. It's 52 miles northeast of Savannah and located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Visitor Information

The official Welcome Center of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Visitor & Convention Bureau (Chamber of Commerce) (tel. 843/785-3673; www.hiltonheadisland.org) is located at 100 William Hilton Parkway and is open from 8:30am until 5:30pm daily. You can pick up free vacation guides (or order them from the website) and free maps of the area. The staff can assist you in finding places of interest and activities and also offer video tours in several languages. The main Chamber of Commerce office is located at 1 Chamber Dr

The Hilton Head Visitors and Convention Bureau (chamber of commerce), 1 Chamber Dr. (tel. 843/785-3673; www.hiltonheadisland.org), offers free maps of the area and will assist you in finding places of interest and outdoor activities. It will even make hotel reservations. It's open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Getting Around

U.S. 278 is the divided highway that runs the length of the island.

Yellow Cab (tel. 843/686-6666) has two-passenger flat fares determined by zone, with an extra $2 charge for each additional person.

Special Events

The earliest annual event is Springfest, a March festival featuring seafood, live music, stage shows, and tennis and golf tournaments. Outstanding PGA golfers also descend on the island in mid-April for the Verizon Heritage Tournament at the Harbour Town Golf Links. To herald fall, the Hilton Head Celebrity Golf Tournament is held on Labor Day weekend at various Island golf courses.