Iconic Wienermobile rolls into Hilton Head. Here’s when to ketchup with the 27-foot vehicle
If you see a giant hot dog rolling through the streets of Beaufort County, don’t worry — it’s not the rush hour traffic playing tricks on you.
An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is making four stops in Hilton Head Island and Bluffton this weekend, including appearances at the island’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Visitors can tour the inside of the Wienermobile, take pictures, chat with the “Hotdoggers” tasked with driving it and get free “Wiener-mobilia” like stickers, postcards and sausage-shaped whistles.
For those relishing the thought of seeing the famed hot dog on wheels, here’s its schedule of stops in Beaufort County.
Thursday, March 13
42 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head (Kroger): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, March 14
27 Discovery Drive, Bluffton (Kroger): 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, March 15
1 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head (St. Patrick’s Concert at Coligny Beach Park): 2:15 to 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 16
1 Pope Avenue, Hilton Head (Hilton Head Ireland St. Patrick’s Day Parade/Irishfest): 12 to 6 p.m.
Hilton Head gets hotter
The hot dog on wheels drew a small crowd as it pulled in front of the Kroger at Shelter Cove at 11 a.m. Thursday.
It’s one of only six Wienermobiles across the country, said Luigino Croce, who’s part of the two-person team tasked with driving this eye-catching vehicle across the country.
But he’d prefer being called by his “hot dog name” — Pickle Pip.
Pip said he’s visited 22 states in the last nine months, part of Hotdoggers’ typical yearlong stint. His copilot, “Deli Ellie,” is on her 26th state.
The company’s 12 drivers are chosen from about 7,000 applicants across the country. Then they “haul buns” up to Wisconsin, where they’re trained in driving the 27-foot vehicle by retired Madison police officers, Pip said.
“Rush hour is my favorite time of all, because at 5 p.m., some people are having a tough day, and then you drive down in the Wienermobile,” Pip said. “You get all the honks, all the smiles, all the waves, all the positivity.”
With a classic ketchup-and-mustard color pallet, the vehicle’s interior features six seats, a hot dog-shaped dashboard and a removable “bunroof.”
It’s not the wurst way to tour the Lowcountry.
“I feel like a lucky dog,” Pip said.
This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM.
