Transportation By Air

Delta and other commuter airlines offer direct service to the Island. Car rentals are available at both airports.

Major airlines serve nearby Savannah, GA.

Airport Shuttles/Cabs:  Please click on this PDF for information on transportation from either airport.

Transportation By Car

Sea Pines is 45 miles from Savannah and 95 miles from Charleston, SC. Southbound and Northbound motorists on I-95 exit at Exit #8. Take I-95 to South Carolina Exit 8. Follow Highway 278 East, approx. 20 miles crossing the bridge onto Hilton Head Island. Once you reach the end of the bridge, proceed 2 miles to the Cross Island Parkway. The entrance is from the left lane (do NOT follow the “BUSINESS” route 278).

Once on the Parkway, proceed another 3 miles to the toll gate where the toll is $1 per car When the Cross Island Expressway ends you will be on Palmetto Bay Road. Stay in the right lane and travel 1.5 miles on Palmetto Bay Road until you arrive at the Sea Pines traffic circleStaying in the right lane in the circle take the first right turning onto Greenwood Drive (1/4 of the way around the circle). Follow Greenwood Drive and stay to the right.The SEA PINES WELCOME CENTER is the Third Building complex on the right. If you come to the guard gate, you have gone too far.

Car Rental

In order to move about the 3,000 acres of Sea Pines, rental cars are encouraged. The Inn at Harbour Town is directly accross from the conference facilities, however Villas may not be immediately adjacent to the conference site. Transportation is needed to take full advantage of shops, restaurants and recreational facilities. If you decide not to rent a car, there are shops and restuarants within walking distance of the conference facilites and bike rentals are available in the area.

Instructions on Checking In

PDF with Directions and Check-in Instructions

IF YOU ARE STAYING AT THE INN AT HARBOUR TOWN:  Drive to the back of the Welcome Center Building to the GUEST PASS WINDOW. You will be given a car pass that will give you access into the Sea Pines property. Proceed through the guard gate and continue on Greenwood Drive for 1.3 miles and turn right onto Plantation Drive. Continue on this road until you come to a stop sign and turn right onto Lighthouse Road. After passing the tennis courts on your left, turn left onto Lighthouse Lane. Your next left will be into the Inn at Harbour Town. The Inn staff at the front desk will assist you with check-in. Check-in time is 4:00pm. Check-out time is 11:00am

IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 11:00PM: Go directly to the guard gate, tell the guard you are checking in at the Inn at Harbour Town and you will be given access into the resort.

IF YOU ARE STAYING IN A VILLA:  Enter the Welcome Center and proceed to the front desk. The staff at the desk will provide you with your gate pass and a map with specific directions to your villa. Your check-in package will include maps of the Sea Pines Resort and the locations of resort amenities. Check-in time is 4:00pm. Check-out time is 10:00am

IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 11:00PM: There is a lock box outside the front doors to the Welcome Center. Pick up the phone by the lock box and the operator will give you the code to unlock it. Your packet will have your name on it. You will need to return to the Welcome Center on the next day to provide a credit card.

International Conference Participants

We are privileged to welcome many international guests to this year’s conference.  The information below is provided as a guide to help you understand any requirements you must fulfill before traveling to the United States.  The conference organizers are not visa experts and we therefore encourage you to regularly visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html, as well as the website for your local U.S. embassy or consulate, as you prepare for your trip. 

The citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries do not need a visa to enter the United States.  As of May 2009, these countries include the following:

Andorra       Iceland         Norway
Australia     Ireland         Portugal
Austria         Italy         San Marino
Belgium     Japan         Singapore
Brunei         Latvia         Slovakia
Czech Republic     Liechtenstein     Slovenia
Denmark     Lithuania     South Korea
Estonia         Luxembourg     Spain
Finland         Malta         Sweden
France         Monaco    Switzerland
Germany     Netherlands     United Kingdom
Hungary     New Zealand 

**New Regulation**
As of January 12, 2009, a valid ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) approval is required for all citizens of VWP countries to travel to the United States.  Please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html for information and instructions on obtaining your ESTA approval.
Citizens of Canada, Bermuda and Mexico can find specific information here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1260.html

Citizens of all other countries will need a B-1 visa to travel to the United States and attend the conference.  General information on B-1 visas is available here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html
However, visa application processes and regulations vary from country to country.  The best source of information is always your local U.S. embassy or consulate.

The very best advice we can offer all of our international guests is to begin any and all approval processes as soon as you know that you are going to attend the conference.  Visa wait times for each country are available here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php but many unforeseeable problems can delay an application.  The conference organizers are not responsible for any financial losses related to your visa application or denial, so we highly recommend that, if at all possible, you do not make any travel-related purchases until you have your visa in hand.

Should you have additional questions about visas for the conference, please contact Gail Spatt at gail.spatt@bme.gatech.edu