Traveling from Hinesville to Macon covers 162.2 miles, a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Because this is a relatively short distance, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your route primarily utilizes the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, along with portions of GA 144 and GA 119. With an estimated fuel cost of $26, it is a budget-friendly way to navigate from the Southeast region toward the center of the state. Whether you are heading inland for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Georgia cities.
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
81.1 miles from Hinesville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
123.9 mi
2h 12m
GA 144
12.2 mi
18m
GA 119
11.1 mi
16m
GA 67
7.8 mi
11m
Old Sunbury Road
3.7 mi
9m
West Oglethorpe Highway
1.9 mi
3m
2nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 123.9 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hinesville, GA and Macon, GA.
1
Start on this road
69 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East Martin Luther King Junior Drive
0.2 mi·34 sec·East Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Since the total drive time is just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility when planning your departure time. You should aim to incorporate at least one stop to break up the 162.2-mile trek, which will help you stay alert during the long highway sections. Be sure to check your fuel levels before merging onto the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, as the 123.9-mile stretch is the longest segment where your options for pulling over will be most limited. Given the highway-heavy nature of this trip, keeping a consistent pace will ensure you reach Macon within your 3-hour and 15-minute estimate. Prioritizing a single, well-timed break will make the transition from the Southeast region to your destination feel much more manageable.
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 81.1 miles from Hinesville, GA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.9 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 36 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.1 miles or 1h 46m 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 42m
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 Hinesville, 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 Hinesville, GA
This is one driving day of about 162.2 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Hinesville, 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 123.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 161.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Turn left onto East Martin Luther King Junior Drive
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 84; GA 38; GA 196 / West Oglethorpe Highway
Turn left onto US 84; GA 38; GA 196 / West Oglethorpe Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|Old Sunbury Road
Turn left onto Old Sunbury Road
Navigation decision point
7
37 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the ramp toward I 16 West: Macon
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 16 West: Macon
6
161.1 mi into trip|~3h 12m in
Take the exit toward GA 22: Second Street, Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1B
Toward GA 22: Second Street, Macon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.36 one way
$50.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.73
$55.47
premium
$4.70
$30.02
$60.04
diesel
$5.61
$35.81
$71.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.7
0
$17.03
$7.79
Efficient EV
40.6
0
$14.19
$6.49
EV Truck/SUV
64.9
0
$22.71
$10.38
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 20, 2026
Origin
Hinesville, GA
Late night
in Hinesville on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, GA
Late night
in Macon on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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 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 15m 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 162.2
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
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 experience, as 96% of your trek takes place on high-speed roads. The vast majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 123.9 miles. This configuration makes for a consistent, efficient pace rather than a winding, technical drive. As you transition away from the coastal area, you will find the road character remains steady, allowing you to maintain a predictable speed throughout the journey. It is a functional route designed for efficiency, perfect if you prefer steady cruising over stop-and-go traffic.
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: 123.9 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and GA 144. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Martin Luther King Junior Drive.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Hinesville, GA to Macon, GA is easy. At 3h 15m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Martin Luther King Junior Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 84; GA 38; GA 196 / West Oglethorpe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (Old Sunbury Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 162.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 123.9 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Martin Luther King Junior Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 84; GA 38; GA 196 / West Oglethorpe Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (Old Sunbury Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 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 Macon, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
