Savannah to Cave Spring is 316.5 miles and takes about 6h 9m via Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I-75, with a fuel budget near $49 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast coast to the inland part of the state. With 90% of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward route for a single-day trip. Expect a largely efficient travel experience, making it a solid option if you need to get across the state quickly.
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
158.2 miles from Savannah, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
162.1 mi
2h 54m
I 75
80.7 mi
1h 29m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
12.4 mi
15m
Rockmart Highway
10.7 mi
13m
Nathan Dean Parkway
10.2 mi
12m
C H James Parkway
7.4 mi
10m
Jimmy Campbell Parkway
5.9 mi
8m
Cave Spring Road
4.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 162.1 mi, about 2h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Savannah, GA and Cave Spring, GA.
1
Start on this road
145 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Fahm Street
72 ft·6 sec·North Fahm Street
3
Turn right onto West Bay Street
1.8 mi·2 min·West Bay Street
4
Turn left onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
360 ft·7 sec·Collins Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
455 ft·9 sec·Augusta Avenue
6
Take the ramp onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Toward GA 21 South
7
Merge onto I 516; US 80; GA 21; GA 25; GA 26
0.8 mi·1 min·William F. Lynes Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 16, US 17 North: Macon, SavannahUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 16 West: MaconUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: AtlantaUse the straight / left lanes.
13
Merge onto I 75
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
19 mi·22 min·I 75
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta, BirminghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 247Toward I 20 West, I 20 East: Birmingham, Augusta, Ralph David Abernathy FreewayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 West: BirminghamUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto I 20
12 mi·15 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 44Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, AustellUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft·4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto GA 6
3.4 mi·5 min·Thornton Road
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi·10 min·C H James Parkway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi·1 min·Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Continue on US 278; GA 6
3.3 mi·5 min·Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on US 278; GA 6; GA 120
5.9 mi·8 min·Jimmy Campbell Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Continue on US 278; GA 6
4.3 mi·4 min·Rockmart Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on US 278; GA 6
10 mi·12 min·Nathan Dean Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
27
Continue on US 278; GA 6
2.8 mi·3 min·Cedartown Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Continue on US 278; GA 6
6.4 mi·8 min·Rockmart Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Continue on East Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·East Avenue
30
At end of road, turn right onto East Avenue
68 ft·6 sec·East Avenue
31
Turn left onto Wissahickon Avenue
0.1 mi·14 sec·Wissahickon Avenue
32
Turn right onto North Cave Spring Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Cave Spring Street
33
Continue on Cave Spring Road
4.6 mi·8 min·Cave Spring Road
34
Continue on Old Cave Spring Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Old Cave Spring Road
35
Continue on Cave Spring Cedartown Road Southwest
1.2 mi·2 min·Cave Spring Cedartown Road Southwest
36
Continue on Old Cedartown Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Cedartown Road
37
Arrive at destination
Old Cedartown Road
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Cave Spring before dark. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. Keep an eye on your fuel level, especially during the longer stretches on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, as services might be less frequent. The $49 fuel cost is an estimate, so be prepared for slight variations. You'll spend most of your time on highways, so look for designated rest areas on I-75 for breaks.
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 158.2 miles from Savannah, GA, or about 2h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.1 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 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.2 miles or 2h 52m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Spring, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 316.5 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Savannah, 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 162.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 260.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3 mi into trip|~5m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 16, US 17 North: Macon, Savannah
8
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 16 West: Macon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 16 West: Macon
8
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
8
247.3 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West, I 20 East: Birmingham, Augusta, Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
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.
Exit 247
Toward I 20 West, I 20 East: Birmingham, August...
8
260.6 mi into trip|~4h 48m in
Take the exit toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
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.
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.49 one way
$98.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$54.12
$108.23
premium
$4.70
$58.58
$117.15
diesel
$5.61
$69.88
$139.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.7 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
1
$33.23
$15.19
Efficient EV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
EV Truck/SUV
126.6
1
$44.31
$20.26
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 20, 2026
Origin
Savannah, GA
Late night
in Savannah on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cave Spring, GA
Late night
in Cave Spring on Tuesday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
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
30 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
6h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 90% of this 316.5-mile drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 162.1 miles, primarily on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. Most of your time will be spent on I-75, which means you'll encounter a fairly consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits as you head northwest. Expect a more rural feel once you leave the immediate Savannah area and before you reach the outskirts of Atlanta.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.1 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 316.5 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 228.6 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.
Between Savannah, GA and Cave Spring, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham, Augusta and Austell.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 316.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 162.1 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Cave Spring, 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. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 228.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cave Spring, GA before the return drive.
