5 Road Trips from Hilton Head Island for One Last Summer Adventure

Five Unforgettable Getaways for Friends Determined to Make Summer Last

Story by Lance Hanlin

Summer never seems to fade gradually. One minute the days feel endless, then before you know it, routines return, calendars fill, and summer is suddenly gone. August offers one final excuse to grab your favorite travel companion and sneak in one last adventure before life shifts gears again. While solo trips certainly have their place, some experiences simply feel better when shared. Whether your friendship thrives on competition, live music, nonstop laughter or the kind of spontaneous plans that somehow become your favorite memories, these five road trips prove there is no better way to send off summer than with your favorite partner in crime riding shotgun.

Casino Cruise Adventure in Brunswick

Bet on Fun

Some friendships are built on playing it safe. Others thrive on chasing excitement, taking chances and seeing where the night leads. If you and your best friend fall into the second category, a cruise aboard the Emerald Princess II Casino offers a great way to close out summer. The adventure starts the moment the ship leaves the dock. As the Georgia coastline slowly disappears behind you, anticipation builds for the main event. Once the vessel crosses into international waters, the casino officially opens, slot machines begin flashing, cards hit the tables, and the night quickly shifts into party mode. Cruises run Thursday through Sunday, with tickets at $25. Stretch the getaway by spending time on Jekyll Island or St. Simons Island, where waterfront bars and fresh seafood give you every excuse to keep the celebration going after the ship returns to shore.

Drive there: 1 Emerald Princess Drive, Brunswick; 2 hours (117 miles) from Hilton Head Island.

Comedy Getaway to North Charleston

Laugh It Off

Some friendships survive entirely on sarcasm, inside jokes and the belief that almost nothing in life should ever be taken too seriously. If your friendship runs on laughter, an August getaway to North Charleston is exactly what summer ordered. On Aug. 22-23, comedian Nikki Glaser brings The Stunning Tour to the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, with tickets starting at $53. It is the perfect excuse for a night spent laughing until your stomach hurts, alongside the friend who somehow finds humor in absolutely everything. Keep the good vibes rolling after the show with a trip to Park Circle, the city’s trendiest neighborhood, where craft breweries, lively bars and late-night eats make the perfect encore to a comedy-filled night.

Drive there: North Charleston Performing Arts Center; 2 hours, 10 minutes (103 miles) from Hilton Head Island.

Football Getaway to Jacksonville

Game On

Some friendships revolve entirely around game day. They are built on fantasy football trash talk, endless debates over rankings, screaming at questionable referee calls and somehow turning every conversation back to football. If that sounds familiar, an August road trip to Jacksonville is the perfect late-summer pilgrimage. On Aug. 21 the Carolina Panthers take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason match-up at EverBank Stadium, with tickets starting at $30. Sure, most of the biggest stars will likely see limited snaps, but that almost misses the point. This is football season’s unofficial kickoff, the perfect excuse to soak in the tailgate atmosphere, hear the roar of the crowd and whet your appetite for all of the Saturdays and Sundays ahead. Turn it into a full weekend by unwinding at Jacksonville Beach, bar hopping through Five Points or grabbing dinner in San Marco while debating fantasy football sleepers and convincing each other this is finally the year your team gets it right.

Drive there: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville; 2 hours, 40 minutes (173 miles) from Hilton Head Island.

Golf Getaway to Atlanta

Tee Time

In the Lowcountry plenty of lifelong bonds have been built the same way: early tee times, friendly wagers and just enough trash talk to make every round interesting. If the golf course has always been part of your story together, an August getaway to Atlanta is a perfect excuse for one final summer road trip. From Aug. 27-30, the TOUR Championship brings the PGA Tour season to its dramatic conclusion at East Lake Golf Club, where the PGA Tour’s top 30 players battle for the coveted FedExCup title. With tickets starting at $94, it is a bucket-list event for friends who can spend hours debating swing mechanics, second guessing club selection and arguing over the best public course rankings. Keep the competition alive by booking your own round at standout courses like Echelon Golf Club, Bobby Jones Golf Course or Bear’s Best Atlanta, and settle once and for all who deserves bragging rights.

Drive there: East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta; 4 hours, 18 minutes (280 miles) from Hilton Head Island.

Music Festival Getaway to Ocala

Turn It Up

Some friendships come with their own soundtrack, fueled by road-trip playlists, shared concert memories, singing every word a little too loudly and always being the first to send each other a new favorite song. If music has always been part of your friendship, August offers a great excuse to hit the road and close out summer at full volume. Held Aug. 28-29 at Florida Horse Park, the Rock The Country festival brings a massive weekend of live music featuring Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jon Pardi and other top acts. With weekend passes starting at $149, it is one of the best festival bargains of the summer. Go all in by camping onsite for the full festival experience, or extend the getaway by swimming in Ocala’s famous crystal-clear springs and turning the weekend into one final summer adventure before real life returns.

Drive there: Florida Horse Park, Ocala; 4 hours, 34 minutes (279 miles) from Hilton Head Island.

More End-of-Summer Getaway Ideas

Not Your Vibe? Try These Instead

Maybe none of those trips match your friendship style. No problem. Here are even more fun ways to make the most of summer’s final stretch.

• For the smack talkers: Catch the WWE Summer Tour on Aug. 29 at Enmarket Arena in Savannah. (45 minutes)
• For the Banana believers: If you can score tickets, catch the wildly entertaining Savannah Bananas in person. (50 minutes)
• For the sand seekers: Camp under the stars at Hunting Island State Park, and spend the weekend by the ocean. (1 hour)
• For the taste testers: Eat and drink your way through the restaurants, rooftops and cocktail bars of downtown Charleston. (2 hours)
• For the ’90s kids: Catch the Gin Blossoms live in concert on Aug. 31 at Charleston Music Hall. (2 hours)
• For the time travelers: Explore the centuries-old streets, forts and famous tours of St. Augustine, Florida. (3 hours)
• For the wild ones: Hop a ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia to spot wild horses and explore untouched beaches. (3 hours)
• For the speed demons: Experience Labor Day weekend at Darlington Raceway during NASCAR’s legendary Cook Out Southern 500. (3.5 hours)
• For the river rats: Grab a tube and spend the day drifting through the crystal-clear waters of Florida’s Ichetucknee Springs State Park. (4 hours)
• For the adrenaline addicts: Take on whitewater rafting, climbing and zip lines at U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. (4 hours)
• For the scream team: Spend the day riding coasters at Carowinds in Charlotte. (4 hours)
• For the trail chasers: Escape to the Upstate, and hike the waterfalls and scenic trails of Table Rock, Jones Gap and Caesars Head. (4 hours)
• For the big spenders: Plan a luxury shopping weekend at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza in Atlanta. (4.5 hours)
• For the swirl seekers: Explore vineyard tours, tastings and cozy wine bars in Asheville, Hendersonville and Tryon, North Carolina. (5 hours)
• For the rockers: Get tickets for The Black Jacket Symphony’s AC/DC Back in Black shows Aug. 28-29 at the Arts Center (HHI).