Nelson, GA to Savannah, GA is 300.9 miles and takes about 5h 36m via I-75 and I-16, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. You'll be on mostly highway for this drive, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. It's a practical route for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.5 miles from Nelson, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 16
164.2 mi
2h 57m
I 75
77.1 mi
1h 25m
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
21.1 mi
22m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.3 mi
8m
A P D Highway
6 mi
6m
Downtown Connector
5 mi
6m
Ball Ground Highway
2.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 16
— 164.2 mi, about 2h 57m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 177 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,725 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,618
Quietest
2 AM
~939 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Nelson, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on Dogwood Pass
17 ft·8 sec·Dogwood Pass
2
Turn left onto Blue Ridge Avenue
517 ft·23 sec·Blue Ridge Avenue
3
Turn left onto Kennesaw Avenue
0.2 mi·39 sec·Kennesaw Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto Canton Road
0.3 mi·26 sec·Canton Road
5
Continue on Ball Ground Highway
2.0 mi·2 min·Ball Ground Highway
6
Continue on GA 372; GA 5 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Canton Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on GA 5 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Ball Ground Highway
8
Turn right onto GA 5 Business
0.4 mi·39 sec·Howell Bridge Road
9
Take the ramp onto GA 5 Business
0.4 mi·52 sec·GA 5 Business
10
Merge onto I 575; GA 5
6.0 mi·6 min·A P D Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 575; GA 5
10 mi·10 min·Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5
11 mi·11 min·Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Merge onto I 75; GA 5
10 mi·11 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on I 75
7.3 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 75; I 85
5.0 mi·6 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi·3 min·James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
12 mi·13 min·I 75
Toward Macon, SavannahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Exit 165Toward I 16 East: Jim Gillis Highway, SavannahUse the slight right lane.
Exit 167AToward Martin Luther King Junior BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi·2 min·Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto GA 25 Connector
0.2 mi·21 sec·West Bay Street
25
Turn uturn
117 ft·11 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 36m estimated drive time, leaving Nelson, GA in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. The 300.9-mile distance can comfortably be covered in one day, so you have flexibility with stop times. Watch for the transition as you move from I-75 to I-16, as this is a significant portion of your drive. With a fuel cost estimated around $46, it's wise to fill up before you leave Nelson to ensure you have enough for the entire 300.9 miles.
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 150.5 miles from Nelson, GA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.2 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 66 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.5 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 35m
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 Nelson, 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 Nelson, GA
This is one driving day of about 300.9 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Nelson, 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 I 16 for about 164.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 21 and 300.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21 mi into trip|~25m in|I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
121.7 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward Macon, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Macon, Savannah
8
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 16 East: Jim Gillis Highway, Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 165
Toward I 16 East: Jim Gillis Highway, Savannah
8
299.8 mi into trip|~5h 33m 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
300.9 mi into trip|~5h 36m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.42 one way
$88.85 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$48.82
$97.64
premium
$4.49
$53.21
$106.43
diesel
$4.80
$56.82
$113.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.3
1
$31.59
$14.44
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.33
$12.04
EV Truck/SUV
120.4
1
$42.13
$19.26
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Nelson, GA
Night
in Nelson on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NW 5 mph58% 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
Night
in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
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
71°F
Jackson, GA
150 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
6 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
5h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 134.9
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 300.9
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 84% of the 300.9 miles on major routes like I-75 and I-16. You'll encounter a long stretch of 164.2 miles on I-16, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. The Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway marks the transition from highway to surface roads, offering a change of pace as you approach your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.2 mi on I 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 16 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21 miles in near I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 300.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 21 miles (I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.7 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,233 ft22 ft
Total Climb
132 ft
Total Descent
1,343 ft
Highest Point
1,233 ft
Elevation Range
1,211 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Nelson, GA to Savannah, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Macon along the way.
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 5h 36m. Total distance: 300.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 164.2 miles on I 16. 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 21 miles (I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 121.7 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Fort Pulaski National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Savannah, GA before the return drive.
