Trip from Sardis, GA to Macon, GA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 47m

Distance

71.1 mi

114 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 40m ★

6 AM

1h 48m

8 AM

2h 3m

10 AM

1h 53m

12 PM

1h 52m

3 PM

1h 54m

5 PM

2h 3m

8 PM

1h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Sardis, GA

Enam Sape

Macon, GA

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Trip Overview

This 71.1-mile drive from Sardis, GA, to Macon, GA, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 1 hour and 47 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via GA 74 and Yatesville Highway, with a portion on Pleasant Hill Street. With only 37% of the drive on highways, expect a varied experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, making it an economical journey. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. This trip stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

35.6 miles from Sardis, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
GA 74	19.7 mi	27m
Yatesville Highway	14.7 mi	20m
Pleasant Hill Street	12.1 mi	17m
Mercer University Drive	4.7 mi	8m
1st Street	4 mi	5m
GA 116	3.8 mi	5m
Thomaston Road	3.7 mi	5m
South Green Street	1.9 mi	3m

Longest stretch: GA 74 — 19.7 mi, about 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sardis, GA and Macon, GA.

Start on Chestnut Grove Road

0.7 mi · 2 min · Chestnut Grove Road

Turn left onto GA 116

3.8 mi · 5 min · GA 116

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn right onto GA 41

1.8 mi · 2 min · GA 41

Turn left onto GA 36

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Main Street

Continue on GA 36

4.0 mi · 5 min · 1st Street

Continue on GA 36

12 mi · 17 min · Pleasant Hill Street

Continue on GA 36

1.9 mi · 3 min · South Green Street

Turn right onto GA 36; GA 74

0.3 mi · 43 sec · West Gordon Street

Turn left onto GA 36; GA 74

305 ft · 10 sec · South Bethel Street

Use the left lane.

Turn right onto GA 74

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Continue on GA 74

15 mi · 20 min · Yatesville Highway

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto GA 74

146 ft · 5 sec · GA 74

Continue on GA 74

20 mi · 26 min · GA 74

Enter roundabout onto GA 74

335 ft · 6 sec · Thomaston Road

Toward Macon

Continue on GA 74

3.6 mi · 5 min · Thomaston Road

Toward Macon

Continue on GA 74

4.7 mi · 8 min · Mercer University Drive

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Toward I 75 North: Atlanta

Merge onto I 75; GA 540

0.9 mi · 1 min · Fall Line Freeway

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Toward US 41 Business, GA 19: Downtown Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

347 ft · 8 sec

Toward US 41 Business South: Downtown, Mercer University Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto US 41 Business; GA 19

0.4 mi · 1 min · Forsyth Street

Turn left onto US 41 Business; GA 19

0.3 mi · 56 sec · College Street

Turn right onto US 41 Business; GA 19

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Georgia Avenue

Continue on Mulberry Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Mulberry Street

Continue on Mulberry Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · Mulberry Street

Arrive at destination

Mulberry Street

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day in Macon or depart later to avoid early traffic. With no specific stops recommended, you can easily break up the journey with brief pauses as needed, perhaps at a gas station or for a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 19.7-mile stretch on GA 74, as services might be spaced out on this section.

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 35.6 miles from Sardis, GA, or about 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.7 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 16 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 35.6 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 28m

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 Sardis, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sardis, GA

This is one driving day of about 71.1 miles and 1h 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Sardis, GA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on GA 74 for about 19.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Barnesville, GA

36 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Barnesville, GA to Macon, GA

37 mi · 50m

Pacing Suggestions

Thomaston, GA

Fuel and coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Macon, Georgia

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14784773232

Visit website

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 0.7 and 69.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | GA 116

Turn left onto GA 116

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

24.6 mi into trip | ~38m in | GA 36; GA 74 / South Bethel Street

Turn left onto GA 36; GA 74 / South Bethel Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

60 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in | GA 74 / Thomaston Road

Enter roundabout onto GA 74 / Thomaston Road toward Macon

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward Macon

69.6 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the exit toward US 41 Business, GA 19: Downtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 41 Business, GA 19: Downtown

69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 41 Business South: Downtown, Mercer University

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 41 Business South: Downtown, Mercer U...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.12 one way

$22.24 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$12.16	$24.31
premium	$4.70	$13.16	$26.32
diesel	$5.61	$15.70	$31.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	21.3	$7.47	$3.41
Efficient EV	17.8	$6.22	$2.84
EV Truck/SUV	28.4	$9.95	$4.55

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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 17, 2026

Origin

Sardis, GA

Late night in Sardis on Tuesday

Local time

5:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Macon, GA

Late night in Macon on Tuesday

Local time

5:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Clear

SW 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

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

22 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 47m 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 ~4 min detour Free near mile 71.1

Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16

Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this drive is a mixed bag, offering a blend of highway speeds and more local road cruising. With 37% of the route on highways, you'll experience some faster stretches, but the majority of your time will be on country roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.7 miles along GA 74. As you progress, you'll notice the transition from more open highway driving to navigating through local streets as you approach Macon.

37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 19.7 mi on GA 74.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near GA 116.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 71.1 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.7 miles (GA 116): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.6 miles (GA 36; GA 74 / South Bethel Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 60 miles (GA 74 / Thomaston Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 71.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (37%). 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 19.7 miles on GA 74. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Macon, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

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 Macon, GA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Sardis, GA or browse trips ending in Macon, GA.

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Trip from Sardis, GA to Macon, GA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Cannonball House

Tubman Museum

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Ocmulgee National Monument Visitors Center

Museum of Arts and Sciences

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Sardis, GA

Macon, GA

Same local time

22 degrees cooler at arrival

1h 47m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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