If you are planning a trip from Union City to Macon, you are looking at a 85.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes to complete. Because this route is quite manageable, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast Georgia locations. Since the entire drive stays within the same region, you can expect a consistent atmosphere throughout your travel. This trip is ideal for those who prefer a direct, local transit experience over a long-haul highway expedition.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42 miles from Union City, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
69.4 mi
1h 15m
Riverside Drive
3.1 mi
5m
I 85
2.3 mi
2m
Forest Parkway
2.3 mi
4m
Flat Shoals Road
1.8 mi
4m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
1 mi
1m
GA 14 Connector
0.7 mi
<1m
Spring Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, GA and Macon, GA.
1
Start on Bantry Circle
267 ft·18 sec·Bantry Circle
2
Turn left onto Limerick Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Limerick Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Kilkenny Drive
205 ft·11 sec·Kilkenny Drive
4
Turn right onto Bally Shannon Drive
498 ft·27 sec·Bally Shannon Drive
5
Turn left onto Flat Shoals Road
1.8 mi·4 min·Flat Shoals Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 85 North: AtlantaUse the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 85
2.3 mi·2 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 69BToward GA 279: Old National HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto GA 14 Connector
0.7 mi·48 sec·GA 14 Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I 285 East: Atlanta International Airport, MaconUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 285
1.0 mi·1 min·Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 60Toward GA 139: Riverdale RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft·4 sec
Toward GA 139 SouthUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto GA 139
467 ft·10 sec·Riverdale Road
15
Turn left onto Forest Parkway
2.3 mi·4 min·Forest Parkway
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward I 75Use the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 75 South: MaconUse the straight lane.
18
Merge onto I 75
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
11 mi·11 min·I 75
Toward Macon, SavannahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Exit 167Toward US 23, GA 87: Riverside DriveUse the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto US 23; GA 87
3.1 mi·5 min·Riverside Drive
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto GA 19; Ga 49
0.2 mi·30 sec·Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on Spring Street
142 ft·4 sec·Spring Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto Mulberry Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·Mulberry Street
25
Continue on Mulberry Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Mulberry Street
26
Arrive at destination
Mulberry Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip with zero planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the 85.4-mile distance in one go, but keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention. Because you aren't dealing with highway stretches, plan for a slower pace and ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent turns rather than high-speed cruising. Before heading out from Union City, double-check your fuel levels to ensure you stay within your $13 estimate. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to map out your transitions between Limerick, Kilkenny, and Bally Shannon Drives ahead of time to stay on course.
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 42 miles from Union City, GA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42 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 25m
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 Union City, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, GA
This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Union City, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 69.4 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.8 and 80.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.8 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward GA 279: Old National Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 69B
Toward GA 279: Old National Highway
8
6.2 mi into trip|~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 East: Atlanta International Airport, Macon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 285 East: Atlanta International Airpor...
8
7.8 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GA 139 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward GA 139 South
8
69.6 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward Macon, Savannah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Macon, Savannah
8
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 23, GA 87: Riverside Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 167
Toward US 23, GA 87: Riverside Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.15 one way
$26.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.38
$28.76
premium
$4.70
$15.57
$31.13
diesel
$5.61
$18.57
$37.14
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.2
0
$8.83
$4.04
Efficient EV
21
0
$7.36
$3.36
EV Truck/SUV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Union City, GA
Morning
in Union City on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, GA
Morning
in Macon on Tuesday
Local time
8:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph0% 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m 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 84.1
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 8.7
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features 0% highway travel. Your journey relies on navigating Limerick Drive, Kilkenny Drive, and Bally Shannon Drive to reach your destination. Because the longest stretch on any single road is 0 miles on Limerick Drive, you will find yourself frequently transitioning between these local arteries. Behind the wheel, this means constant engagement and a more technical driving experience than you would find on a major expressway. Prepare for a road environment that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed, long-distance stretches.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.4 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Riverside Drive. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.1 miles you will encounter 22 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 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,009 ft370 ft
Total Climb
195 ft
Total Descent
799 ft
Highest Point
1,009 ft
~6 mi in
Elevation Range
639 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Union City, GA to Macon, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Savannah along the way.
Savannah
69.6 mi in|~1h 23m|via I 75
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 84.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.4 miles on I 75. 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. 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.
