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| South Carolina Highway 700 | |
|---|---|
| State | SC |
| Type | SC |
| Route | 700 |
| Direction a | West |
| Direction b | East |
| Counties | Beaufort |
South Carolina Highway 700 is a state highway in Beaufort County, South Carolina, linking coastal communities on Hilton Head Island and the mainland near Port Royal and Beaufort. The route serves local traffic, tourism access, and connects to federal and state routes that tie into regional corridors such as U.S. Route 21, U.S. Route 278, Interstate 95, U.S. Route 17. It passes near landmarks and institutions including Hilton Head Island Airport, Beaufort County Library, Savannah River Site (SRS), and recreational areas frequented by visitors from Savannah, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia.
The highway begins near bridges and marsh crossings close to Daufuskie Island access points and proceeds through suburban and resort zones adjacent to Sea Pines Resort, Palmetto Dunes, Sunset Beach, North Carolina-regional corridors, paralleling waterways linked to the Hilton Head Island Beach and Tennis Resort and wetlands managed by organizations such as the National Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy. It intersects local arterials that lead toward Beaufort National Cemetery, Fort Fremont, and ferry terminals serving Parris Island. Along its alignment the route crosses creeks and canals feeding into the Port Royal Sound estuary, passing near campuses and facilities associated with University of South Carolina Beaufort and healthcare providers like Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Connections provide access to commercial centers oriented to visitors from Orlando, Florida, Greenville, South Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina via longer routes.
The corridor transitions from two-lane segments to multi-lane sections approaching junctions with South Carolina Highway 46 (1930s–1940s), South Carolina Highway 116 (historical), and ramps toward U.S. Route 278 Business near ferry and marina districts. Roadside services include visitor centers promoted by South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and private operators linked to the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Vegetation screens include stands of Live oak, Southern red cedar, and managed maritime forests protected through initiatives by Beaufort County Open Land Trust.
The corridor evolved from early 20th-century island access lanes used by residents and military personnel from nearby installations such as Parris Island Recruit Depot and the Beaufort Arsenal (historic). During the mid-20th century, growth in lowcountry tourism and federally funded highway improvements under programs influenced by Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 accelerated paving and realignment. Regional planning by entities including the Beaufort County Council and state agencies resulted in route designations aligning with expansion projects tied to interstate connectivity to Interstate 95 and ferry service restoration efforts after storms like Hurricane Hugo (1989) and Hurricane Matthew (2016). Historic maps show incremental re-numbering influenced by statewide route revisions overseen by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, mirroring shifts in development patterns driven by companies like Disney-era resort developers and local real estate interests such as Sea Pines Company.
Preservation concerns led to collaborations with heritage organizations like the Historic Beaufort Foundation and archaeological surveys coordinated with the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology. Notable milestones include bridge replacements funded through grants tied to programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, environmental permitting involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and signage upgrades in coordination with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Major intersections link to primary corridors serving the Beaufort region and beyond: connections near U.S. Route 278 and U.S. Route 21 provide access toward Savannah River, Tybee Island, and inland routes to Statesboro, Georgia. Junctions with county roads serve destinations including Port Royal, Bluffton, South Carolina, and island neighborhoods developed by firms tied to the Hilton Head Company. Interchanges facilitate movement toward military and federal sites such as Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and research facilities linked to the U.S. Department of Energy at regional laboratories. The corridor also interfaces with local transit hubs serving systems coordinated by Beaufort County Transit and regional airport links to Hilton Head Airport for commercial flights to hubs like Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Traffic patterns reflect seasonal peaks driven by tourism linked to events at venues such as the Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance, RBC Heritage, and golf resorts frequented by visitors from New York City, Boston, and Chicago. Summer and holiday volumes often surge toward marina districts, marinas operated by firms associated with the Yacht Club Association of the United States, and commercial centers anchored by regional retailers headquartered in places like Walmart Inc. and Publix Super Markets. Freight movements serving construction and hospitality industries include deliveries routed from ports such as Port of Savannah and logistics centers tied to companies like CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway. Safety initiatives and crash data reviews have been conducted in partnership with South Carolina Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies.
Planned improvements include capacity projects, intersection reconfigurations, and multimodal investments coordinated by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, regional planning bodies like the Lowcountry Council of Governments, and funding partners including the U.S. Department of Transportation. Proposed enhancements emphasize resilience to storm surge and sea-level rise studied by institutions such as NOAA and the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, with design input from engineering firms that have worked on projects for Interstate 26 and coastal highways. Transit-oriented proposals evaluated by the Beaufort County Transportation Master Plan consider enhanced bus service, bicycle lanes connected to networks promoted by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, and pedestrian improvements near parks managed by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Funding mechanisms under consideration include state appropriations, federal grants from programs like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and public–private partnerships modeled after developments in Bluffton, South Carolina and other lowcountry communities.
Category:State highways in South Carolina