Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
174.3 mi
280 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Macon, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Montgomery, GA
Enam Sape
This 174.3-mile drive from Macon, Georgia, to Montgomery, Georgia, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. You'll be spending about 95% of your time on highways, making it a straightforward journey through the Southeast. With an estimated fuel cost of $27, this route is quite budget-friendly. The primary roads you'll navigate include Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and William F. Lynes Parkway. This drive is ideal for those seeking an efficient and uncomplicated transit between two points within the same state, offering a clear path with minimal detours.
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
87.1 miles from Macon, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway | 161 mi | 2h 53m |
| William F. Lynes Parkway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Whitefield Avenue | 3.7 mi | 7m |
| Waters Avenue | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Derenne Avenue | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Riverside Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Waters Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Spring Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Macon, GA and Montgomery, GA.
Start on Mulberry Street
Continue on Spring Street
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 87
Turn left onto US 80; GA 87
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 16
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 516; US 17; US 80; GA 21; GA 25; GA 26
Continue on GA 21
Turn right onto Waters Avenue
Continue on Waters Drive
Continue on Waters Avenue
Continue on GA 204 SPUR
Continue on Whitefield Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 15 minutes for this 174.3-mile drive, you have excellent flexibility in planning your departure. Leaving in the morning will get you to Montgomery with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $27, you can easily manage this trip in one go. Pay attention to signage for Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and William F. Lynes Parkway to ensure you stay on track. A practical tip is to fill up your fuel tank before departing Macon, as the longest stretch is over 160 miles, minimizing the need for unplanned stops.
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.
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 38 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montgomery, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Macon, 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 Macon, GA
This is one driving day of about 174.3 miles and 3h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 87.1 miles from Macon, 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 161 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 162.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 16 East: Savannah
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 516 East, US 80 East, US 17 South, GA 21 South: Lynes Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 516 East, US 80 East, US 17 South, GA 21 South: Lynes Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$27.26 one way
$54.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $29.80 | $59.61 |
| premium | $4.70 | $32.26 | $64.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.48 | $76.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.37 |
| Efficient EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.25 | $6.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.40 | $11.16 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Macon on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
Destination
Late night in Montgomery on Sunday
Local time
12:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for this 174.3-mile stretch, with 95% of the journey occurring on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 161 miles, primarily on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. This suggests a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. The profile indicates a smooth, direct experience, likely involving limited interactions with local traffic or slower-paced roads, allowing you to maintain a steady speed for most of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and William F. Lynes Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive.
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 174.3 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.2 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 174.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Macon, GA or browse trips ending in Montgomery, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.
