Connecting McRae to Macon, this 81-mile journey takes you through the heart of Southeast Georgia. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 21 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via local roads like South 2nd Avenue, Railroad Street, and South 3rd Avenue rather than major interstates. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, it is an economical route for a quick change of scenery. Because the drive is straightforward and relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from McRae, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
49.1 mi
52m
US 319
28.7 mi
39m
South 3rd Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
2nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Railroad Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Oak Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 2nd Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 49.1 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McRae, GA and Macon, GA.
1
Start on US 23; US 341; GA 27
336 ft·13 sec·East Oak Street
2
Turn left onto South 2nd Avenue
273 ft·17 sec·South 2nd Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 23; US 341; GA 27
430 ft·14 sec·Railroad Street
4
Turn right onto US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31
1.6 mi·2 min·South 3rd Avenue
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto US 319; US 441; GA 31
28 mi·38 min·US 319; US 441; GA 31
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on US 319; US 441; GA 31; GA 117
0.3 mi·43 sec·US 319; US 441; GA 31; GA 117
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn left
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I-16 West: Macon
8
Merge onto I 16
49 mi·52 min·Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Exit 1BToward GA 22: Second Street, Macon
10
Turn right onto GA 22
0.6 mi·1 min·2nd Street
11
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.3 mi·58 sec·Mulberry Street
12
Arrive at destination
Mulberry Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a compact 1 hour and 21-minute trip with no mandatory stops, you can easily complete the drive in a single stretch. Aim to depart outside of local peak traffic hours to ensure the most consistent travel time on the local roads. Keep in mind that since you are navigating town streets, your speed will fluctuate more than on a traditional highway. Budgeting $13 for fuel should be more than sufficient for the 81-mile distance, but it is always wise to check your levels before leaving McRae. Use the flexibility of this short drive to your advantage by planning your arrival in Macon for exactly when you want to be there.
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 40.5 miles from McRae, GA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.1 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 53m 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 24m
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 McRae, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from McRae, GA
This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from McRae, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway for about 49.1 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 79.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 23; US 341; GA 27 / Railroad Street
Turn left onto US 23; US 341; GA 27 / Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in|US 319; US 441; GA 31
Turn left onto US 319; US 441; GA 31
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
30.5 mi into trip|~42m in
Turn left toward I-16 West: Macon
Navigation decision point
Toward I-16 West: Macon
6
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m 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
$12.65 one way
$25.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.83
$27.67
premium
$4.70
$14.97
$29.95
diesel
$5.61
$17.86
$35.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 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
24.3
0
$8.49
$3.88
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.08
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
McRae, GA
Late night
in McRae on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, GA
Late night
in Macon on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Dublin, GA
40 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
28 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 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged throughout the 81-mile trek. Unlike high-speed interstate travel, this route features zero highway miles, meaning your pace will be dictated by local traffic and road geometry. You will spend your time navigating through town streets rather than cruising on wide-open stretches. Because the path relies on local infrastructure, you should anticipate constant maneuvering and a more hands-on driving experience compared to a standard highway commute. It is a practical, direct connection between these two Georgia locations that favors local accessibility over speed.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.1 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and US 319. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 23; US 341; GA 27 / Railroad Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 38m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 23; US 341; GA 27 / Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (US 319; US 441; GA 31): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 49.1 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 0.1 miles (US 23; US 341; GA 27 / Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.8 miles (US 319; US 441; GA 31): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Macon, GA before heading back.
