This 352.3-mile journey from St. Marys, GA to Brookhaven, GA is designed for a single day of driving, estimated to take about 6 hours and 34 minutes. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a 96% highway share, making it a straightforward drive. The estimated fuel cost is around $55. Given the duration and road profile, this route is best tackled in one go, rather than splitting it into two days. The drive begins in the Southeast region and concludes within the same region, offering a consistent travel experience through Georgia.
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
176.2 miles from St. Marys, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
155.9 mi
2h 47m
I 95
94.9 mi
1h 42m
I 75
84.9 mi
1h 35m
Osborne Street
3 mi
4m
Kingsland Saint Marys Road
3 mi
4m
East King Avenue
2.2 mi
3m
North Druid Hills Road Northeast
1.9 mi
3m
Northeast Expressway
1.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 155.9 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 139 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,725 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,618
Quietest
2 AM
~939 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between St. Marys, GA and Brookhaven, GA.
1
Start on 41703
77 ft·8 sec·West Hall Street
2
Turn left onto GA 40
3.0 mi·4 min·Osborne Street
3
Continue on GA 40
3.0 mi·4 min·Kingsland Saint Marys Road
4
Continue on GA 40
2.2 mi·3 min·East King Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: I 95 North
6
Merge onto I 95
94 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 95
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
0.6 mi·47 sec·I 95
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·50 sec
Exit 99BToward I 16 West: MaconUse the slight right lane.
Toward I 75 North: AtlantaUse the straight / left lanes.
12
Merge onto I 75
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
23 mi·28 min·I 75
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta, BirminghamUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
1.5 mi·1 min·Northeast Expressway
Exit 251BToward I 85 North: Greenville
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 86Toward GA 13 North: Buford HighwayUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto GA 13
1.4 mi·1 min·Buford-Spring Connector
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on GA 13
1.2 mi·2 min·Buford Highway
18
Turn left onto North Druid Hills Road Northeast
0.3 mi·37 sec·North Druid Hills Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto North Druid Hills Road Northeast
1.5 mi·3 min·North Druid Hills Road Northeast
Toward North Druid Hills RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn slight right onto GA 141
427 ft·12 sec·Peachtree Road Northeast
21
Turn right
139 ft·12 sec
22
Turn right
63 ft·9 sec
23
Turn left
347 ft·25 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 34-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from St. Marys to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With a total distance of 352.3 miles, you'll have flexibility for stops. Given the longest stretch is over 150 miles, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, perhaps around the halfway point or before you hit that longer segment. The $55 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting. Keep an eye out for the transition points between highways, as these can sometimes involve brief slowdowns.
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 176.2 miles from St. Marys, GA, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.9 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 78 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.2 miles or 3h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookhaven, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving St. Marys, 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 St. Marys, GA
This is one driving day of about 352.3 miles and 6h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from St. Marys, 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 155.9 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 103.7 and 350.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
103.7 mi into trip|~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward I 16 West: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99B
Toward I 16 West: Macon
7
260.3 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta
8
322.9 mi into trip|~5h 53m 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
7
347.1 mi into trip|~6h 23m in
Take the exit toward GA 13 North: Buford Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 86
Toward GA 13 North: Buford Highway
7
350.6 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|North Druid Hills Road Northeast
Keep slight right at fork onto North Druid Hills Road Northeast toward North Druid Hills Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward North Druid Hills Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.04 one way
$112.07 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$61.10
$122.20
premium
$4.78
$66.29
$132.57
diesel
$5.35
$74.20
$148.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.7
1
$36.99
$16.91
Efficient EV
88.1
1
$30.83
$14.09
EV Truck/SUV
140.9
1
$49.32
$22.55
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
St. Marys, GA
Afternoon
in St. Marys on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brookhaven, GA
Afternoon
in Brookhaven on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph4% chanceLive 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
8 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 34m 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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 340.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 255.1
War was imminent as James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica in 1736, to help protect the British colonies from the Spanish in Florida. Fort Frederica illustrates the story of the War of Jenkins Ea...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 48.6
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,...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
$5
near mile 352.3
St Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man an...
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
$10
near mile 97.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for 96% of your trip. The main arteries you'll navigate include the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, I-95, and I-75. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans an impressive 155.9 miles on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While primarily highway, the initial segment on the Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway might offer a slightly different feel before merging onto the interstate system for the bulk of the journey.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 155.9 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I 95. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 103.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 352.3 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 103.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 322.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
974 ft10 ft
Total Climb
1,011 ft
Total Descent
47 ft
Highest Point
974 ft
~352.3 mi in
Elevation Range
964 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between St. Marys, GA and Brookhaven, GA, road signs point toward Savannah and Birmingham.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 34m. Total distance: 352.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 155.9 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 41 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 Brookhaven, 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 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 103.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 322.9 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park and Fort Frederica National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brookhaven, GA before the return drive.
