Albany, GA to Swainsboro, GA is 153.5 miles and takes about 3 hours 25 minutes via Cordele Road and GA 257, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, traversing the Southeast region, and offers a straightforward journey. You'll experience a mixed drive, so expect a blend of road types as you make your way north. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a relatively quick relocation or a day trip within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.7 miles from Albany, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Cordele Road
35.2 mi
43m
GA 257
34 mi
46m
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
28.3 mi
30m
Chester - Dublin Highway
12.9 mi
18m
Empire-Chester Highway
8.8 mi
11m
US 221
8.7 mi
11m
West Street
7.4 mi
11m
Vienna Highway
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Cordele Road
— 35.2 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, GA and Swainsboro, GA.
1
Start on Pine Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Pine Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Enter roundabout onto North Front Street
75 ft·5 sec·North Front Street
3
Continue on North Front Street
510 ft·14 sec·North Front Street
4
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·West Broad Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto Blaylock Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Blaylock Street
6
Turn right onto Clark Avenue
2.2 mi·3 min·Clark Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left onto GA 300
35 mi·43 min·Cordele Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I-75 North: MaconUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 75
2.0 mi·2 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 102Toward GA 257: Cordele, HawkinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto GA 257
25 mi·34 min·GA 257
12
Turn straight onto GA 27; GA 257
3.0 mi·4 min·Vienna Highway
13
Continue on GA 27; GA 257
0.8 mi·1 min·McCormick Avenue
14
Merge onto US 129; US 341; GA 11; GA 27; GA 230; GA 257
1.2 mi·2 min·Broad Street
15
Continue on US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 27; GA 112; GA 257
127 ft·8 sec·US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 27; GA 112; GA 257
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn left onto US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 112; GA 257
1.3 mi·2 min·US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 112; GA 257
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto GA 257
8.7 mi·11 min·GA 257
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn right onto US 23; 87; 257
455 ft·7 sec·Golden Isles Highway
19
Continue on US 23; GA 87; GA 257
0.4 mi·32 sec·Eastman Cochran Highway
20
Turn left onto GA 257
8.8 mi·11 min·Empire-Chester Highway
21
Turn slight left onto Carolina Avenue South
1.0 mi·2 min·Carolina Avenue South
22
Continue on GA 257
0.2 mi·22 sec·Carolina Street
23
Continue on GA 257
0.2 mi·22 sec·Chester-Dublin Highway
24
Continue on GA 257
13 mi·18 min·Chester - Dublin Highway
25
Enter roundabout onto GA 257
107 ft·4 sec·GA 257
26
Continue on GA 257
0.3 mi·39 sec·GA 257
Use the straight lane.
27
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward SavannahUse the right lane.
28
Merge onto I 16
28 mi·30 min·Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Exit 78Toward US 221, GA 56: Soperton, Swainsboro
30
Turn left onto US 221; GA 56
1.9 mi·2 min·US 221; GA 56
31
Continue on US 221; 171
6.8 mi·9 min·US 221; 171
32
Turn right onto US 80; GA 26
7.4 mi·11 min·West Street
33
Continue on US 80; GA 26
2.1 mi·3 min·West Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
34
Turn right
71 ft·7 sec
35
Turn right
103 ft·7 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 25 minute drive time, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Swainsboro with daylight to spare. The longest stretch without a significant road change is 35.2 miles, so plan for a single fuel stop if your vehicle's range is less than that. Keep an eye out for the transition onto GA 257, as this marks a key part of the route as you head north. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an economical trip to budget for.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.7 miles from Albany, GA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 34 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.7 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Swainsboro, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albany, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, GA
This is one driving day of about 153.5 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Albany, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Cordele Road for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 134.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|Clark Avenue
Turn right onto Clark Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
39.7 mi into trip|~51m in
Turn left toward I-75 North: Macon
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-75 North: Macon
8
42 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward GA 257: Cordele, Hawkinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 102
Toward GA 257: Cordele, Hawkinsville
6
106.3 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Take the ramp toward Savannah
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Savannah
6
134.9 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward US 221, GA 56: Soperton, Swainsboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 78
Toward US 221, GA 56: Soperton, Swainsboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.00 one way
$48.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.25
$52.49
premium
$4.70
$28.41
$56.82
diesel
$5.61
$33.89
$67.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.1
0
$16.12
$7.37
Efficient EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
EV Truck/SUV
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.82
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Albany, GA
Morning
in Albany on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Swainsboro, GA
Morning
in Swainsboro on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
28 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 25m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a mixed drive profile, with 48% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on Cordele Road, including one uninterrupted segment of 35.2 miles, which offers a good pace. As you progress, the roads will transition, offering a varied driving experience rather than a consistent interstate grind. The Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway is also part of your path, suggesting a route that weaves through different types of Georgia landscapes.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Cordele Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 25 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in near Clark Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.5 miles you will encounter 25 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (Clark Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Albany, GA and Swainsboro, GA, road signs point toward Hawkinsville and Savannah.
Albany is a city of 72,000 people (2019) in Dougherty County in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region. It is part of the Black Belt, the extensive area in the Deep South of cotton plantations. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the Albany Movement, a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in 1961. Ray Charles, the singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, was born here, and is remembered in a park with a statue.
Top landmarks
•Albany Municipal Auditorium — concert hall and multi-use auditorium in Albany, Georgia
•Old St. Teresa Catholic Church — church building in Albany, United States of America
•United States Post Office and Courthouse — historic building in Albany, Georgia
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 153.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Cordele Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Swainsboro, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles (Clark Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 42 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Swainsboro, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
