Getting around Bluffton: roads, transit, airport, parking

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Facts come from the Town of Bluffton, Palmetto Breeze, the South Carolina Hurricane Guide and the airports’ own websites. For current closures, see our road construction page.

Most of Bluffton is built around a few big roads: U.S. 278, the route between Interstate 95 and Hilton Head Island; S.C. 46; S.C. 170, Okatie Highway; and the Bluffton Parkway. Most trips are by car or golf cart, with a weekday bus and two airports within reach.

Who to call

• Live traffic and closures: 511SC
• Bus service: Palmetto Breeze, 843-757-5782
• Town street or sign problem: SeeClickFix or 843-706-4500
• Golf cart and traffic enforcement: Bluffton Police Department, 843-706-4550; non-emergency 843-524-2777

Roads and the interstate

Bluffton drivers reach I-95 at Exit 8 by way of U.S. 278 west of town, the route the state’s hurricane guide uses. S.C. 170 leads north toward S.C. 462 and I-95 Exit 28. U.S. 278 continues east over the bridges to Hilton Head Island, about 11 miles away, where the U.S. 278 Corridor Project will replace bridge spans; Beaufort County expects construction to start in 2028. S.C. 46 runs west from Old Town toward Hardeeville, about 9 miles.

The town maintains some streets and SCDOT or Beaufort County the rest; the town’s road maintenance responsibility map (PDF) shows which.

The bus: Bluffton Breeze

Palmetto Breeze, the Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority, runs the Bluffton Breeze, Routes 511 and 512, Monday through Friday, with no service on holidays.

• Route 511 runs between Buckwalter Place and Tanger Outlets about every hour, from about 6:30 to 11 a.m. and 3:10 to 6 p.m. Riders may ask the driver to stop at key places along the route when it is safe.
• Track the bus live at trackthebreeze.com; select your route.
• Route 804 is a daily commuter service connecting workers in outlying counties with jobs in Bluffton, the town says; Palmetto Breeze also runs other regional commuter services.
• Questions: 843-757-5782, option 1.

Palmetto Breeze also provides hurricane evacuation transportation for Beaufort County residents who have no other way to leave; advance registration is required. See our hurricane prep guide.

Airports

• Hilton Head Island Airport, owned by Beaufort County, on Hilton Head Island. It has nonstop service; the airport lists where it flies, directions and parking.
• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, in Savannah, Georgia, the larger airport serving the area. See savannahairport.com.

Golf carts

Bluffton adopted a specialized vehicle safety law covering golf carts, low-speed vehicles and utility terrain vehicles; Bluffton police began issuing citations after Jan. 1, 2026, according to the town.

• Everyone on board wears a seat belt, including children.
• Drivers must be at least 16 with a valid license.
• Golf carts and low-speed vehicles need SCDMV registration and a permit decal; all need liability insurance, a rearview mirror, and headlights, taillights and turn signals for night use.
• Carts may use roads of 35 mph or less, unless a designated lane exists. No four-lane roads, no roundabouts or traffic circles, and no pathways or sidewalks. Four-lane roads may be crossed only at intersections with traffic lights.
• Fines run up to $500, or up to 30 days in jail.

Parking in Old Town

Old Town has public lots, on-street parking and church lots, but parking is tighter this fall as streetscape and drainage work goes on along Pritchard Street, Bridge Street and other Historic District streets. The town’s online parking information page was not working when we checked; call Town Hall at 843-706-4500 for current rules.

To help during construction, the town ran a free Old Town shuttle as a 12-week pilot from June 18, 2026, Thursdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., looping between Wright Family Park (111 Calhoun St.), Mellichamp Drive at Bluffton Road, the M.C. Riley Sports Complex (185 Goethe Road) and Oyster Factory Park (63 Wharf St.). The town said it would decide whether to keep it after the pilot; check the town’s social media.

For big events such as the Fourth of July fireworks and the Christmas parade, the town runs shuttles from Town Hall and closes Old Town streets; see our Fourth of July and Christmas parade pages.

Walking and biking

Golf carts are not allowed on the town’s pathways and sidewalks. The town is adding crosswalks, lighting and traffic calming at 28 locations outside the Historic District, and the New River Linear Trail on Okatie Highway is open dawn to dusk.

What this means for you

• Check 511SC before driving U.S. 278 toward I-95 or Hilton Head.
• The Bluffton Breeze runs weekdays only, mornings and late afternoons.
• Golf carts stay off four-lane roads and sidewalks, and everyone buckles up.
• Give yourself extra time to park in Old Town this fall.

Related: road construction and closures, moving to Bluffton and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a bus in Bluffton, SC?

Yes. Palmetto Breeze runs the Bluffton Breeze, Routes 511 and 512, Monday through Friday. Route 511 runs between Buckwalter Place and Tanger Outlets about every hour in the morning and late afternoon. Call 843-757-5782.

What airport is closest to Bluffton?

Hilton Head Island Airport, owned by Beaufort County, has nonstop flights. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia is the larger airport serving the area.

Can you drive a golf cart on the road in Bluffton?

Yes, with limits. Under the town’s specialized vehicle law, golf carts may use roads of 35 mph or less, not four-lane roads, roundabouts, pathways or sidewalks. Everyone must wear a seat belt, and drivers must be 16 with a license.

Is there a free shuttle in Old Town Bluffton?

The town ran a free 12-week pilot shuttle in Old Town starting June 18, 2026, on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, linking Wright Family Park, Oyster Factory Park, M.C. Riley Sports Complex and Mellichamp Drive. Check the town’s social media for whether it continues.