If you are planning a trip from Macon to Winder, expect a straightforward journey covering 91.8 miles. You should set aside approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel to complete this drive. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting around $15 for fuel will cover your transit across these two Southeast Georgia locations. Since both cities are within the same region, you will experience a consistent cultural and geographic transition as you travel north. It is a practical, no-nonsense commute that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from Macon, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Maddux Street
23.2 mi
32m
State Route 11
12.3 mi
19m
State Highway 11 South
10.8 mi
15m
Gray Highway
10.5 mi
13m
Monticello Highway
7.7 mi
10m
North Cherokee Road
5.7 mi
8m
GA 11
4.5 mi
9m
Greene Settlement Road
3.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Maddux Street
— 23.2 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Macon, GA and Winder, GA.
1
Start on Mulberry Street
76 ft·2 sec·Mulberry Street
2
Continue on Spring Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 129; GA 11; GA 49; GA 540
0.3 mi·40 sec·North Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on US 129; GA 11; GA 49
11 mi·13 min·Gray Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 129; GA 11; GA 18; GA 22
2.3 mi·3 min·Gray Bypass
Use the left lane.
6
Turn left onto Greene Settlement Road
3.6 mi·5 min·Greene Settlement Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto GA 11
7.7 mi·10 min·Monticello Highway
8
Continue on GA 11
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 11 South
9
Continue on GA 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Hillsboro Street
10
Turn left onto GA 11
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Washington Street
11
Turn right onto GA 11
174 ft·5 sec·South Warren Street
12
Turn left onto GA 11; GA 16; GA 83; GA 212
205 ft·7 sec·West Greene Street
13
Continue on GA 11
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Greene Street
14
Continue on GA 11
105 ft·3 sec·West Greene Street
15
Continue on GA 11
0.4 mi·52 sec·College Street
16
Turn slight left onto GA 11
23 mi·32 min·Maddux Street
17
Enter roundabout onto GA 11
100 ft·1 sec·State Route 11
18
Continue on GA 11
7.1 mi·9 min·State Route 11
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on GA 11
1.2 mi·1 min·Social Circle Bypass
20
Continue on GA 11
5.7 mi·8 min·North Cherokee Road
21
Enter roundabout onto GA 11
119 ft·2 sec·GA 11
22
Continue on GA 11
4.5 mi·9 min·GA 11
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on GA 11
5.2 mi·9 min·State Route 11
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on GA 11
2.6 mi·4 min·Winder-Monroe Highway
25
Continue on GA 11
1.6 mi·2 min·Christmas Avenue
26
Continue on GA 11
2.5 mi·3 min·Monroe Highway
27
Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·May Street
28
Turn slight right
150 ft·6 sec
29
Turn slight right onto GA 11; GA 53
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Broad Street
30
Arrive at destination
GA 11; GA 53; GA 211
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip with no mandatory stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure you maintain that 2-hour and 16-minute travel time. Since the entire route is under 100 miles, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing an extended break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Macon; while $15 is a reasonable estimate, having a full tank before hitting the state highways is always a smart move. Focus your attention on the transition between Maddux Street and the various state highways, as these navigational shifts occur frequently along the route.
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 45.9 miles from Macon, GA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.2 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 20 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 1h 5m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winder, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 91.8 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Macon, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Maddux Street for about 23.2 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 11.4 and 74.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
11.4 mi into trip|~15m in|US 129; GA 11; GA 18; GA 22 / Gray Bypass
Turn left onto US 129; GA 11; GA 18; GA 22 / Gray Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
13.7 mi into trip|~19m in|Greene Settlement Road
Turn left onto Greene Settlement Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
36.6 mi into trip|~51m in|GA 11 / South Warren Street
Turn right onto GA 11 / South Warren Street
Navigation decision point
4
60.4 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|GA 11 / State Route 11
Enter roundabout onto GA 11 / State Route 11
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
74.4 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|GA 11
Enter roundabout onto GA 11
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.36 one way
$28.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.70
$31.39
premium
$4.70
$16.99
$33.98
diesel
$5.61
$20.27
$40.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.5
0
$9.64
$4.41
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.03
$3.67
EV Truck/SUV
36.7
0
$12.85
$5.88
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Macon, GA
Late night
in Macon on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Winder, GA
Late night
in Winder on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Monticello, GA
46 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
24 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
2h 16m 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
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?
This mixed drive offers a varied experience behind the wheel, shifting between local roads and state routes. You will spend about 30% of your time on highways, providing a nice balance to the more localized sections of the journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 23.2-mile segment on Maddux Street, which offers a steady rhythm for your drive. Throughout the trip, you will navigate via State Route 11 and State Highway 11 South. The changing road types keep the drive engaging, moving you through different traffic flows as you transition between the two towns.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.2 mi on Maddux Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.4 miles in near US 129; GA 11; GA 18; GA 22 / Gray Bypass.
Driving Effort5/10
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 91.8 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: at 11.4 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 18; GA 22 / Gray Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (Greene Settlement Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (GA 11 / South Warren Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 91.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.2 miles on Maddux Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 11.4 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 18; GA 22 / Gray Bypass): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles (Greene Settlement Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.6 miles (GA 11 / South Warren Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds 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 Winder, GA before heading back.
