Origin
Buena Vista, GA
Morning in Buena Vista on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buena Vista, GA to Savannah, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 26m
Distance
221.4 mi
356 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 13m
★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 53m
10 AM
4h 36m
12 PM
4h 33m
3 PM
4h 37m
5 PM
4h 52m
8 PM
4h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buena Vista, GA
dp singh Bhullar
Savannah, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 221.4-mile journey from Buena Vista, GA to Savannah, GA, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 26 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, GA 96, and Buena Vista Highway. With a highway share of 85%, expect a focused drive, making it manageable for a day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $35. This trip stays within the Southeast region, offering a straightforward drive across Georgia.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
110.7 miles from Buena Vista, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway | 137.6 mi | 2h 28m |
| GA 96 | 38.1 mi | 52m |
| Buena Vista Highway | 16.3 mi | 22m |
| GA 137 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Miami Valley Road | 7.3 mi | 9m |
| Doctor Deryl Hart Road | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| GA 358 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| East Church Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 137.6 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on 4th Avenue
72 ft
·
8 sec
·
4th Avenue
2
Turn left onto McDuffie Street
486 ft
·
25 sec
·
McDuffie Street
3
Turn right onto GA 137
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
3rd Avenue
4
Turn left onto GA 137
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Oliver Street
5
Continue on GA 137
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Doctor Deryl Hart Road
6
Continue on GA 137
16 mi
·
22 min
·
Buena Vista Highway
7
Take the ramp onto GA 137
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
GA 137
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on GA 96; GA 540
12 mi
·
14 min
·
GA 96; GA 540
9
Turn right onto GA 96
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
GA 96
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on GA 96
352 ft
·
10 sec
·
Orange Street
11
Continue on GA 96
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Vineville Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto US 341; GA 7; GA 96
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Oakland Heights Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto GA 96
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
GA 96
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on GA 96
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
East Church Street
15
Continue on GA 96
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Miami Valley Road
16
Continue on GA 96
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
GA 96
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on GA 96
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
GA 96
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on GA 96
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
GA 96
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on GA 96
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
GA 96
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
20
Continue on GA 96
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
GA 96
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
21
Continue on GA 96
15 mi
·
20 min
·
GA 96
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto GA 358
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
GA 358
Use the right lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
24
Merge onto I 16
137 mi
·
2 hr 27 min
·
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Toward Savannah
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 16
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 167A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
28
Turn left onto GA 25 Connector
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Bay Street
29
Turn uturn
117 ft
·
11 sec
30
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 26-minute duration, starting your drive from Buena Vista in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed arrival in Savannah. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 137.6-mile stretch on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, as services might be less frequent. This is a drive that can comfortably be completed in one day, so you can afford to be spontaneous with your timing.
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 110.7 miles from Buena Vista, GA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.6 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 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.7 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savannah, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Buena Vista, 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 Buena Vista, GA
This is one driving day of about 221.4 miles and 4h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Buena Vista, 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 Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway for about 137.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 110.7 miles from Buena Vista, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 137.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 46.7 and 221.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
46.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
GA 96
Turn left onto GA 96
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
82.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Merge onto I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway toward Savannah
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Savannah
6
219.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
|
I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
220.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 167A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
7
221.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 26m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.62 one way
$69.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $37.86 | $75.71 |
| premium | $4.70 | $40.98 | $81.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $48.88 | $97.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.4 | 0 | $23.25 | $10.63 |
| Efficient EV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.37 | $8.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 88.6 | 1 | $31.00 | $14.17 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Destination
Savannah, GA
Morning in Savannah on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 26m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 85% of the journey on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 137.6 miles on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, suggesting a consistent pace for much of the trip. While the majority is highway, expect a blend of road types as you transition between major parkways and state routes. The overall feel is one of steady progress across the landscape.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.6 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and GA 96. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 46.7 miles in near GA 96.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 221.4 miles you will encounter 14 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 46.7 miles (GA 96): Lane positioning matters here; at 82.6 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.6 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 221.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.6 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Savannah, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 46.7 miles (GA 96): Lane positioning matters here; at 82.6 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.6 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Savannah, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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