Hilton Head Island Airport to implement new parking system. Here’s what we know
Hilton Head Island Airport is fresh off the first phase of its terminal expansion, and another change is coming to the airport in the next few days.
The airport announced a new parking gate system for its two parking lots, designed to make parking more convenient. HHH is one of the country’s smallest commercial airports at 200 acres, but it’s looking to grow.
How does the new system work?
The gate system allows visitors and passengers to enter the airport’s terminal and general aviation parking lots without needing a ticket. The gates read license plates and calculate parking time when they leave. Visitors will pay when they leave, while the current gate system requires pre-payment for parking.
The new system allows visitors to park free for 30 minutes. This lets people dropping off or picking up passengers enter and exit free of charge, according to the announcement.
The parking rates remain the same for both lots. Hourly parking costs $4 per hour, and daily parking costs a maximum of $16 per day. Payments can be made through on-site payment stations and through mobile payment options, according to the announcement.
Beaufort County Airports Director Jon Rembold said the new gate system is only days away from implementation. The airport has experimented with self-service gates and kiosks in the past, but encountered problems with both systems, he said. The new system will be more secure and prevent visitors from leaving without paying. Parking fees are a major source of revenue for the airport, he said.
Expansion at HHH
HHH completed the first phase of its terminal expansion project on May 1, 2026, adding 27,000 square feet of additional terminal space to the existing 18,000 square-foot terminal, according to previous Island Packet reporting. It served 124,177 arriving and 120,808 departing passengers in 2025. But Rembold hopes more will be attracted by the expansion.
“It takes a while for the word of mouth to spread,” Rembold said at the time. “But I think something like this is going to move it a little faster.”
HHH doubled its passenger count after a runway expansion in 2018, according to previous Island Packet reporting. And its numbers are up this year too. Arrivals and departures through June are up by 12,638.
The expansion’s second phase will remodel HHH’s original terminal, according to previous Island Packet reporting. The second phase is pending, Rembold said.