Donalsonville, GA to Savannah, GA is 288.9 miles and takes about 6h 9m via Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and GA 257, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a route that primarily uses highway driving, making it a straightforward trip. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct path to Savannah without much fuss.
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
144.5 miles from Donalsonville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
116.8 mi
2h 6m
Main Street
47.3 mi
1h 6m
GA 257
34 mi
46m
GA 300
21.9 mi
27m
Cordele Road
13.8 mi
17m
Chester - Dublin Highway
12.9 mi
18m
South Tennille Avenue
12.5 mi
17m
Empire-Chester Highway
8.8 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 116.8 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Donalsonville, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on US 84; GA 38
44 ft·5 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto GA 39; GA 91
12 mi·17 min·South Tennille Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 27; GA 1; GA 45; GA 91
1.2 mi·2 min·Crawford Street
4
Turn left onto GA 45; GA 91
0.2 mi·17 sec·West College Street
5
Continue on GA 45; GA 91
350 ft·7 sec·GA 45; GA 91
6
Continue on GA 45; GA 91
65 ft·4 sec·North 1st Street
7
Turn right onto GA 91
47 mi·1 hr 6 min·Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto GA 234
3.0 mi·5 min·West Oakridge Drive
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on GA 234
0.8 mi·1 min·Moultrie Road
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·40 sec
Toward US 19 North, GA 133 North, GA 300 North: Albany, Atlanta
11
Merge onto US 19; GA 3; GA 300
1.6 mi·2 min·Liberty Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 2AToward US 82 East, GA 520: Sylvester, Tifton
13
Turn straight onto US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·Sylvester Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Cordele Road
14 mi·17 min·Cordele Road
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on GA 300
22 mi·27 min·GA 300
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I-75 North: MaconUse the left lane.
18
Merge onto I 75
2.0 mi·2 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 102Toward GA 257: Cordele, HawkinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn right onto GA 257
25 mi·34 min·GA 257
21
Turn straight onto GA 27; GA 257
3.0 mi·4 min·Vienna Highway
22
Continue on GA 27; GA 257
0.8 mi·1 min·McCormick Avenue
23
Merge onto US 129; US 341; GA 11; GA 27; GA 230; GA 257
1.2 mi·2 min·Broad Street
24
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.
25
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
Exit 167AToward Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
41
Turn left onto GA 25 Connector
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Bay Street
42
Turn uturn
117 ft·11 sec
43
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 9m duration, starting in the morning allows ample time to reach Savannah before dark. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the drive sooner if needed, especially during the longest stretch on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. Keep an eye on fuel, as the estimated cost is $45, and plan your stops accordingly. This drive is manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 144.5 miles from Donalsonville, GA, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.8 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 64 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.5 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 11m
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 Donalsonville, 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 Donalsonville, GA
This is one driving day of about 288.9 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Donalsonville, 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 116.8 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 66.9 and 288.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 82 East, GA 520: Sylvester, Tifton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 2A
Toward US 82 East, GA 520: Sylvester, Tifton
6
104 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Turn left toward I-75 North: Macon
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-75 North: Macon
8
106.3 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
8
287.8 mi into trip|~6h 6m 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
288.9 mi into trip|~6h 9m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.18 one way
$90.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$49.40
$98.79
premium
$4.70
$53.47
$106.94
diesel
$5.61
$63.79
$127.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.7
1
$30.33
$13.87
Efficient EV
72.2
0
$25.28
$11.56
EV Truck/SUV
115.6
1
$40.45
$18.49
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Donalsonville, GA
Night
in Donalsonville on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Savannah, GA
Night
in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
9:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Ashburn, GA
144 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
3 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 288.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 62% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 116.8 miles on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, offering a good pace. The drive transitions from Main Street onto GA 257, providing a mix of road types. While largely highway, the initial and final segments will likely feel more local.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.8 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Main Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 66.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 288.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 66.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 106.3 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 Donalsonville, GA and Savannah, GA, road signs point toward Atlanta, Tifton and Hawkinsville.
Atlanta
65 mi in|~1h 33m
Tifton
66.9 mi in|~1h 36m
Hawkinsville
106.3 mi in|~2h 26m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 288.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.8 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 66.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 106.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Pulaski National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Savannah, GA before the return drive.
