Spanning 317.2 miles across Georgia, this trip from Rome to Savannah takes roughly 6 hours of pure driving time. Because the route is almost entirely highway-focused, you can realistically complete the journey in a single day if you start early. Budgeting approximately $51 for fuel is a smart way to prepare for the trip. You will traverse the Southeast region, moving from the northwest corner of the state toward the Atlantic coast. While a single day is feasible, planning for at least one stop is recommended to break up the long hours behind the wheel. This drive is a straightforward, efficient way to cross the state, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding backroads.
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
158.6 miles from Rome, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 16
164.2 mi
2h 57m
I 75
119.2 mi
2h 14m
GA 20
18.7 mi
22m
Joe Frank Harris Parkway Southeast
5.7 mi
9m
James Wendell George Parkway
2.3 mi
3m
Turner McCall Boulevard
2 mi
3m
East Main Street
1.5 mi
2m
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 16
— 164.2 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rome, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on US 27; GA 1; GA 20
2.0 mi·3 min·Turner McCall Boulevard
2
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 20
19 mi·22 min·GA 20
Toward US 411, GA 20: Cartersville, AtlantaUse the slight left lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto US 411; GA 20
0.2 mi·33 sec·US 411; GA 20
Use the slight right lane.
4
Continue on US 41; US 411; GA 3; GA 20
5.7 mi·9 min·Joe Frank Harris Parkway Southeast
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn sharp left onto East Church Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Church Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn left onto GA 113
1.5 mi·2 min·East Main Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
8
Merge onto I 75
42 mi·49 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi·3 min·James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
12 mi·13 min·I 75
Toward Macon, SavannahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
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
To maximize your travel time, aim to depart Rome early in the morning to avoid congestion near major urban junctions. Since this is a 6-hour trek, plan for at least one substantial rest stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keeping your $51 fuel budget in mind, monitor your gauges during the long 164.2-mile stretch on I-16 where service options may be more spaced out. Because the route is flexible, you have the advantage of adjusting your pace based on traffic conditions on I-75. A helpful tip is to check the status of your main highways before you pull out of your driveway to ensure there are no unexpected delays on your primary path.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.6 miles from Rome, GA, or about 3h 7m 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 70 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.6 miles or 3h 7m 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 56m
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 Rome, 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 Rome, GA
This is one driving day of about 317.2 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Rome, 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 2 and 316.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2 mi into trip|~3m in|GA 20
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 20 toward US 411, GA 20: Cartersville, Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 411, GA 20: Cartersville, Atlanta
7
26.6 mi into trip|~36m in|East Church Street
Turn sharp left onto East Church Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
137.9 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
150.2 mi into trip|~2h 57m 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
316.1 mi into trip|~5h 57m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.60 one way
$99.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$54.24
$108.47
premium
$4.70
$58.71
$117.41
diesel
$5.61
$70.03
$140.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.2
1
$33.31
$15.23
Efficient EV
79.3
0
$27.76
$12.69
EV Truck/SUV
126.9
1
$44.41
$20.30
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Rome, GA
Night
in Rome on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Savannah, GA
Night
in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
9:16 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
College Park, GA
159 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
9 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
6h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 153.1
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
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...
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 317.2
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?
Expect a highly efficient journey, as 98% of this route takes place on major highways. You will primarily navigate via GA 20, I-75, and I-16 to reach your destination. The experience is defined by a significant, 164.2-mile uninterrupted stretch along I-16, which serves as the backbone of your travel. Because of this interstate-heavy profile, the road character is consistent and predictable rather than technical. You should prepare for a steady, high-speed pace that allows for steady progress across the Georgia landscape, making it a functional choice for travelers who want to reach the coast quickly.
98% 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: 164.2 mi on I 16.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 2 miles in near GA 20.
Driving Effort7/10
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 317.2 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 2 miles (GA 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (East Church Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Rome, GA to Savannah, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Macon along the way.
Macon
137.9 mi in|~2h 44m|via I 75
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h. Total distance: 317.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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 2 miles (GA 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (East Church Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. 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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 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.
