This 167.1-mile drive from Centerville to Savannah, Georgia, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 13 minutes. With 96% of the journey on highways, it's a predominantly fast-paced route that should cost around $27 in fuel. You'll primarily be on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, GA 96, and South Houston Lake Road. Given its efficient nature and the Southeast region's consistent scenery, this trip is ideal for those looking to reach Savannah without extensive overnight stops.
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
83.5 miles from Centerville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
137.6 mi
2h 28m
GA 96
18.5 mi
25m
South Houston Lake Road
4.8 mi
8m
GA 358
3.6 mi
4m
North Houston Lake Boulevard
0.9 mi
1m
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi
2m
West Bay Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 137.6 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centerville, GA and Savannah, GA.
Exit 167AToward Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto GA 25 Connector
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Bay Street
13
Turn uturn
117 ft·11 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 13-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Centerville to maximize your time in Savannah. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of approximately $27, you have flexibility in pacing. The 137.6-mile uninterrupted stretch on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway means you can settle in, but be mindful of potential traffic as you approach Savannah. Utilize the highway sections efficiently to make the most of this straightforward trip.
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 83.5 miles from Centerville, GA, or about 1h 41m 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 37 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 39m
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 Centerville, 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 Centerville, GA
This is one driving day of about 167.1 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Centerville, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 28.4 and 167 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
28.4 mi into trip|~41m 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
165.3 mi into trip|~3h 9m 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
165.9 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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
6
166 mi into trip|~3h 11m in|Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
167 mi into trip|~3h 13m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.13 one way
$52.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.57
$57.14
premium
$4.70
$30.93
$61.85
diesel
$5.61
$36.89
$73.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.1
0
$17.55
$8.02
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.62
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Centerville, GA
Late night
in Centerville on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Savannah, GA
Late night
in Savannah on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Dublin, GA
84 mi in
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
4 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
3h 13m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
National Monument
For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority over these fort...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$10
near mile 167.1
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 167.1-mile journey, with 96% of the route utilizing faster roads. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a significant change in road type is 137.6 miles on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. This means you'll likely experience a consistent driving pace for the majority of your trip, allowing for efficient travel time. While the primary roads are highways, the inclusion of sections like GA 96 and South Houston Lake Road may offer brief glimpses of local Georgia landscapes.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 28.4 miles in near I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
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 167.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 28.4 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.3 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 167.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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 28.4 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.3 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 165.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Pulaski National Monument and Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Savannah, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
