Monticello to Savannah is 201.4 miles and takes about 3h 52m via Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, connecting the Southeast region with itself. Expect a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it an efficient choice if you're looking to cover ground quickly. With a recommended single day for this route, it's ideal for a direct transfer or a quick weekend getaway.
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
100.7 miles from Monticello, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
163.4 mi
2h 56m
State Highway 11 South
10.8 mi
15m
Gray Highway
10.4 mi
13m
Monticello Highway
7.7 mi
10m
Greene Settlement Road
3.6 mi
5m
Gray Bypass
2.3 mi
3m
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi
2m
Hillsboro Street Extension
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 163.4 mi, about 2h 56m
Traffic on I-16
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~958 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,352
Quietest
1 AM
~111 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on GA 83
118 ft·11 sec·North Warren Street
2
Turn left onto GA 16; GA 212
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Greene Street
3
Turn right onto Hillsboro Street Extension
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillsboro Street Extension
4
Continue on GA 11
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 11 South
5
Continue on GA 11
7.7 mi·10 min·Monticello Highway
6
Turn right onto Greene Settlement Road
3.6 mi·5 min·Greene Settlement Road
7
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22
2.3 mi·3 min·Gray Bypass
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22
10 mi·13 min·Gray Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Turn slight left onto US 129 Alternate; GA 22
0.2 mi·28 sec·2nd Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto US 23; US 129 Alternate; GA 19; GA 540
Exit 167AToward Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left onto GA 25 Connector
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Bay Street
18
Turn uturn
117 ft·11 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 52-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Savannah without feeling rushed. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but consider stopping once to break up the 163.4-mile stretch on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. Keep an eye on your fuel as you approach Savannah, and remember that the estimated fuel cost is around $31. Planning for a brief stop mid-route will make the drive more comfortable.
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 100.7 miles from Monticello, GA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.4 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 44 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.7 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savannah, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monticello, 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 Monticello, GA
This is one driving day of about 201.4 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Monticello, 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 163.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.3 and 201.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
25.3 mi into trip|~36m in|US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
35.8 mi into trip|~50m in|US 23; US 129 Alternate; GA 19; GA 540 / Emery Highway
Turn left onto US 23; US 129 Alternate; GA 19; GA 540 / Emery Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
36.7 mi into trip|~52m in
Turn left toward I 16 East: Savannah
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 16 East: Savannah
8
200.2 mi into trip|~3h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 167A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
7
201.3 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.73 one way
$59.47 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$32.68
$65.35
premium
$4.49
$35.62
$71.24
diesel
$4.80
$38.03
$76.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.62
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.20
$12.89
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Monticello, GA
Late night
in Monticello on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:51PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:47PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Destination
Savannah, GA
Late night
in Savannah on Monday
Local time
2:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SE 9 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:51PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 4:47PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 52m on the road
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.
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
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 34.7
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
For much of the 19th century, masonry fortifications were the United States’ main defense against overseas enemies. However, during the Civil War, new technology proved its superiority over these fort...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$10
near mile 201.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The bulk of this drive, 86% highway, means you'll spend most of your time on faster roads. You'll have a long stretch of 163.4 miles on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, which suggests sustained cruising. You'll transition from highway driving to surface roads after this main segment, so be prepared for a change in pace and potentially more frequent intersections as you approach your destination.
86% 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: 163.4 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and State Highway 11 South. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 25.3 miles in near US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 201.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 25.3 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.8 miles (US 23; US 129 Alternate; GA 19; GA 540 / Emery Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Savannah is the fifth largest city in Georgia, at the northern end of the state's coast. It's famous for having one of the largest historic districts in the country.
Top landmarks
•Fort Pulaski National Monument — national monument in the United States
•Congregation Mickve Israel — synagogue in Savannah, Georgia, USA
•Casimir Pulaski Monument — monument in Savannah, Georgia, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 201.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163.4 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.
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 Savannah, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.3 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 35.8 miles (US 23; US 129 Alternate; GA 19; GA 540 / Emery Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Fort Pulaski National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Savannah, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
