Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 31m
Distance
262.1 mi
422 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
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
Demorest, GA
Giovani Nunes
Savannah to Demorest is 262 miles and takes about 5 hours 31 minutes via US 78 and GA 21, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from Georgia's coast to its northeastern mountains, offering a mix of highway and surface road driving. Given the relatively short duration, it's a manageable single-day excursion, perfect for getting to your destination efficiently. You'll spend a good portion of your time on main roads, making it a straightforward path north.
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
131.1 miles from Savannah, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 49m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 78 | 42 mi | 50m |
| GA 21 | 41.9 mi | 48m |
| Main Street | 29.7 mi | 40m |
| Carl Sanders Highway | 23.9 mi | 25m |
| US 441 | 18.8 mi | 22m |
| GA 56 | 13.7 mi | 19m |
| Augusta Road | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| Thomson Road | 11 mi | 13m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,936 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~196 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
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 Demorest, GA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto North Fahm Street
Turn right onto West Bay Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 516; GA 21; GA 25
Continue on GA 21
Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT
Turn right onto GA 21 Business
Continue on US 301 Business; GA 73; GA 21 Business
Turn slight left onto US 301 Business; GA 73
Turn right onto US 301; GA 73 Loop
Take the exit onto GA 24
Turn right onto Millhaven Road
Continue on Milhaven Road
Turn straight onto Girard Millhaven Road
Continue on Millhaven Road
Continue on GA 23
At end of road, turn right onto GA 56
Take the ramp onto GA 56
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 520
Keep slight right at fork onto I 520
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 20
Take the exit
Turn right onto GA 17
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Turn left onto US 78; GA 10
Take the exit
Merge onto US 29; US 129; US 441; GA 8; GA 10 Loop; GA 15
Take the exit onto US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15
Take the exit
Turn slight right
Merge onto US 441; GA 15
Continue on US 441; GA 15
Continue on US 441; GA 15
Continue on US 441; GA 15
Turn right onto US 441 BUS; GA 105
Continue on US 441 BUS; GA 105
Continue on US 441 BUS; GA 105
Turn right onto US 441 BUS; GA 105
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 105; GA 385
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 385
Continue on US 441 Business; 385
Continue on US 441 Business; 385
Arrive at destination
For this 5-hour drive, leaving Savannah in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in Demorest with plenty of daylight. The single stop suggested is likely sufficient, but you can be flexible since it's a one-day trip. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move away from the initial highway sections, as the $40 budget is an estimate. Pay attention to signage for US 78 and GA 21 as these are your primary routes for most of the journey.
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 58 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.1 miles or 2h 49m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Demorest, 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 262.1 miles and 5h 31m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
131 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 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 131.1 miles from Savannah, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 123.5 and 216.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 520 / Bobby Jones Expressway toward I 20: Atlanta, Lexington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15 / Outer Loop 10 toward US 129, US 441, GA 10 Loop: Commerce, Jefferson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 441 North: Commerce
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn slight right toward US 441 North, GA 15 North: Commerce Road, Commerce, Sandy Creek Park, Nature Center
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$40.16 one way
$80.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $44.07 | $88.14 |
| premium | $4.64 | $47.85 | $95.70 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $57.78 | $115.55 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.52 | $12.58 |
| Efficient EV | 65.5 | 0 | $22.93 | $10.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 104.8 | 1 | $36.69 | $16.77 |
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Savannah on Wednesday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Demorest on Wednesday
Local time
3:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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 route is split about evenly, with 52% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter 42 miles of continuous driving on US 78, which is the longest uninterrupted stretch. Expect a transition from more highway-like conditions to surface roads as you get closer to Demorest. The mix means you'll experience both faster cruising and more local traffic navigation.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 123.5 miles in near I 520 / Bobby Jones Expressway.
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 24 significant decision points across 262.1 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 123.5 miles (I 520 / Bobby Jones Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 215 miles (US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15 / Outer Loop 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,502 ft
Total Descent
176 ft
Highest Point
1,349 ft
~262.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,327 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Savannah, GA and Demorest, GA, road signs point toward Lexington, Washington, Jefferson, Commerce, Sandy Creek Park and Nature Center.
Lexington
Washington
Jefferson
Commerce
Sandy Creek Park
Nature Center
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 5h 31m. Total distance: 262.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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