Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 21m
Distance
182.8 mi
294 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Savannah, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Byron, GA
Michael Hall
Savannah, GA to Byron, GA is 182.8 miles and takes about 3h 21m via Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, specifically within Georgia for its entirety. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient connection between these two points. Given its relatively short duration and highway profile, it's well-suited for a single-day trip without feeling rushed.
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
91.4 miles from Savannah, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway | 162.1 mi | 2h 54m |
| Fall Line Freeway | 16 mi | 18m |
| West Bay Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| William F. Lynes Parkway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| GA 49 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| GA 540 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 80 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 114 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~963 veh/hr typical · worst 1,428
Quietest
1 AM
~114 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Savannah, GA and Byron, GA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto North Fahm Street
Turn right onto West Bay Street
Turn left onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Continue on US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Take the ramp onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Merge onto I 516; US 80; GA 21; GA 25; GA 26
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 16
Continue on I 16; GA 540
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 540
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 540
Take the exit onto GA 540
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 540
Continue on GA 49; GA 540
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
Consider leaving Savannah in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of the single-day nature of this 3h 21m drive. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $28, planning is straightforward. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is over 162 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, so ensure you're comfortable with sustained highway travel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before departing Savannah, as options may be more spread out on certain highway segments.
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.
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 40 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.4 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Byron, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Savannah, 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 Savannah, GA
This is one driving day of about 182.8 miles and 3h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 91.4 miles from Savannah, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 162.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 181.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 16, US 17 North: Macon, Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 16 West: Macon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway toward I 75 South, GA 540 West: Valdosta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto GA 540 toward GA 49: Byron, Fort Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 540 toward GA 540: Byron Welcome Center, Massee Lane Gardens, Fort Valley State University, Byron, Fort Valley
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$28.01 one way
$56.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $30.74 | $61.48 |
| premium | $4.64 | $33.37 | $66.74 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $40.30 | $80.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.8 | 0 | $19.19 | $8.77 |
| Efficient EV | 45.7 | 0 | $16.00 | $7.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 73.1 | 0 | $25.59 | $11.70 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Savannah on Friday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Byron on Friday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
72°F
Helena, GA
91 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Monument
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is almost entirely highway, with a 99% highway share. You'll be on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway for a significant stretch of 162.1 miles. The transition to surface roads will be minimal and occur very late in the drive. Expect consistent highway cruising for the vast majority of your time behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Fall Line Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 182.8 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 166.1 miles (GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
658 ft
Total Descent
173 ft
Highest Point
507 ft
~182.8 mi in
Elevation Range
485 ft
Founded 1733
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 182.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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