Traveling from Washington to Savannah spans 172.6 miles and takes approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. You will navigate through the heart of Southeast Georgia, transitioning from the inland landscape toward the coast. With an estimated fuel cost of $28, the trip is budget-friendly and straightforward for most drivers. While you could easily complete this in one go, planning for at least one stop will keep you refreshed. This route functions well as a direct transit between these two distinct Georgia locales, offering a manageable balance of distance and time.
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
86.3 miles from Washington, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Savannah Highway
38.3 mi
44m
GA 24
28.8 mi
41m
Carl Sanders Highway
23.6 mi
25m
Peach Orchard Road
21.4 mi
25m
US 78
20.8 mi
25m
North Columbia Avenue
13.4 mi
16m
Bobby Jones Expressway
6.7 mi
7m
Burton's Ferry Highway
4.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Savannah Highway
— 38.3 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on US 78 BUS; GA 10 BUS; GA 47
1.6 mi·2 min·East Robert Toombs Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 78; GA 10; GA 17
21 mi·25 min·US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I-20 East: AugustaUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 20
24 mi·25 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 520 East, GA 232Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 520 East
7
Continue on I 520
6.7 mi·7 min·Bobby Jones Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 25, GA 121
9
Turn right onto US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT
4.3 mi·5 min·Peach Orchard Road
10
Continue on US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT
0.3 mi·21 sec·Nellie Drive
11
Continue on US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT
17 mi·20 min·Peach Orchard Road
12
Turn right onto US 25; GA 121
2.7 mi·4 min·Liberty Street
13
Continue on GA 24
28 mi·40 min·GA 24
14
Take the ramp onto GA 24
0.3 mi·39 sec·GA 24
15
Merge onto US 301; GA 24; GA 73
4.4 mi·5 min·Burton's Ferry Highway
16
Turn left onto US 301 Business; GA 73
2.6 mi·3 min·US 301 Business; GA 73
17
At end of road, turn left onto GA 21; I 3 FUT
0.3 mi·26 sec·Perimeter Road
18
Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT
38 mi·44 min·Savannah Highway
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT
0.1 mi·7 sec·Augusta Highway
20
Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT
13 mi·16 min·North Columbia Avenue
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto GA 307; Alternate GA 21
1.1 mi·1 min·Bourne Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto GA 25
2.2 mi·3 min·Main Street
23
At end of road, turn left onto US 80; GA 26
465 ft·7 sec·Main Street
24
Continue on US 80; GA 26
2.5 mi·4 min·West Bay Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn left
117 ft·11 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 3 hour and 36 minute transit, plan to depart early in the day to avoid mid-afternoon traffic fluctuations. Since the route requires only a modest $28 fuel investment, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace without worrying about significant overhead costs. Incorporating your one recommended stop will help break up the journey, especially during the longer stretches on Savannah Highway. Stay mindful of your surroundings as you transition between the various state and local roads, as speed limits and road conditions will change frequently. Given the manageable duration, you have the freedom to arrive in Savannah at a time that best suits your personal schedule.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.3 miles from Washington, GA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.3 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 38 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 45m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savannah, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Washington, 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 Washington, GA
This is one driving day of about 172.6 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Washington, 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 Savannah Highway for about 38.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.6 mi into trip|~2m in|US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Turn right onto US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
22.4 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-20 East: Augusta
5
22.7 mi into trip|~28m in|I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
46.3 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward I 520 East, GA 232
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.
Toward I 520 East, GA 232
5
46.5 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 520 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 520 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.99 one way
$53.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.51
$59.02
premium
$4.70
$31.94
$63.89
diesel
$5.61
$38.11
$76.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.12
$8.28
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.10
$6.90
EV Truck/SUV
69
0
$24.16
$11.05
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Washington, GA
Night
in Washington on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Savannah, GA
Night
in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
10:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Sylvania, GA
86 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 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
3h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Fort Pulaski National Monument
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$10
near mile 172.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition across 172.6 miles of Georgia terrain. You will spend roughly 34% of your time on highways, utilizing a combination of Savannah Highway, GA 24, and Carl Sanders Highway. The pace varies significantly, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 38.3 miles on Savannah Highway. Because this is a mixed-profile drive, you should be prepared for shifting road types that require constant engagement behind the wheel. The road personality evolves as you move away from Washington, blending faster highway segments with more localized driving conditions.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.3 mi on Savannah Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near US 78; GA 10; GA 17.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 1.6 miles (US 78; GA 10; GA 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 172.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.3 miles on Savannah Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Savannah, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (US 78; GA 10; GA 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Pulaski National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Savannah, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
