Ellaville, GA to Macon, GA is 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 30m via US 19 and GA 96, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop through Georgia's Southeast region keeps you on well-maintained highways for nearly the entire journey. Expect a straightforward drive that’s perfect for a quick transfer or a relaxed day trip. Given the short duration and minimal stops, this route offers flexibility for your travel plans. It’s designed for efficiency, getting you from point A to B with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.7 miles from Ellaville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 19
21.1 mi
24m
GA 96
18.8 mi
22m
Fall Line Freeway
12 mi
14m
Peach Parkway
8.5 mi
10m
GA 540
6.8 mi
7m
GA 49
1.3 mi
2m
North Broad Street
1.3 mi
2m
Forsyth Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 21.1 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellaville, GA and Macon, GA.
1
Start on GA 26
87 ft·9 sec·West Oglethorpe Street
2
Turn left onto North Broad Street
1.3 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 19; GA 3
21 mi·24 min·US 19; GA 3
4
Continue on US 19; GA 3
461 ft·7 sec·South Broad Street
5
Turn right onto GA 96; GA 540
19 mi·22 min·GA 96; GA 540
6
Continue on GA 49 Connector; GA 540
4.7 mi·6 min·Fall Line Freeway
Use the straight lane.
7
At end of road, turn left onto GA 49; GA 540
8.5 mi·10 min·Peach Parkway
8
Continue on GA 49; GA 540
1.0 mi·1 min·GA 49; GA 540
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on GA 49; GA 540
0.3 mi·45 sec·GA 49; GA 540
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit onto GA 540
6.8 mi·7 min·GA 540
Toward I 75:north: MaconUse the left lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75; GA 540
7.2 mi·8 min·Fall Line Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Macon, SavannahUse the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward US 41 Business, GA 19: DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
347 ft·8 sec
Toward US 41 Business South: Downtown, Mercer UniversityUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto US 41 Business; GA 19
0.4 mi·1 min·Forsyth Street
15
Turn left onto US 41 Business; GA 19
0.3 mi·56 sec·College Street
16
Turn right onto US 41 Business; GA 19
0.3 mi·49 sec·Georgia Avenue
17
Continue on Mulberry Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Mulberry Street
18
Continue on Mulberry Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Mulberry Street
19
Arrive at destination
Mulberry Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just 1.5 hours, you have the flexibility to leave Ellaville whenever suits you best, even mid-morning. Since the route is so short and primarily highway, you likely won't need to plan for extensive stops. However, it's always wise to top off your fuel tank before departing Ellaville, especially since the estimated fuel cost is a modest $11. The longest stretch without a major turn is 21.1 miles on US 19, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge if you tend to drive a bit past the halfway point of a tank.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.7 miles from Ellaville, GA, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 21.1 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.7 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Macon, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellaville, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ellaville, GA
This is one driving day of about 71.4 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Ellaville, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 19 for about 21.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 70.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|GA 540
Take the exit onto GA 540 toward I 75:north: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 75:north: Macon
8
62.7 mi into trip|~1h 17m in|I 75; GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75; GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway toward I 75 North: Macon, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Macon, Savannah
7
69.9 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 41 Business, GA 19: Downtown
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.
Toward US 41 Business, GA 19: Downtown
9
70.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 41 Business South: Downtown, Mercer University
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 41 Business South: Downtown, Mercer U...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.17 one way
$22.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$12.21
$24.42
premium
$4.70
$13.21
$26.43
diesel
$5.61
$15.76
$31.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.4
0
$7.50
$3.43
Efficient EV
17.9
0
$6.25
$2.86
EV Truck/SUV
28.6
0
$10.00
$4.57
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Ellaville, GA
Late night
in Ellaville on Sunday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, GA
Late night
in Macon on Sunday
Local time
4:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
2 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
1h 30m 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.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 71.4
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influenc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 96% of your travel occurring on major roadways like US 19 and the Fall Line Freeway (GA 96). You’ll experience a consistent pace, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 21.1 miles on US 19. The character of the drive remains fairly uniform, characterized by smooth, direct travel conducive to maintaining speed. It’s a practical, no-frills driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.1 mi on US 19.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 19 and GA 96. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Broad Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.4 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles (GA 540): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.7 miles (I 75; GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
On the drive from Ellaville, GA to Macon, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Savannah along the way.
Savannah
62.7 mi in|~1h 17m|via I 75; GA 540
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 71.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m 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 21.1 miles on US 19. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Macon, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.9 miles (GA 540): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 62.7 miles (I 75; GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Macon, GA before heading back.
