Wilmington Island to Albany is 234.6 miles and takes about 4 hours 56 minutes via Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Georgia-Florida Parkway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast coast inland. Expect a mostly highway experience, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. It's a practical choice if you need to get from the Savannah area to Albany efficiently.
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
117.3 miles from Wilmington Island, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
116 mi
2h 5m
Georgia-Florida Parkway
35.1 mi
43m
GA 257
22.5 mi
32m
Hawkinsville Road
15.7 mi
21m
Cordele Highway
9.4 mi
12m
Empire-Chester Highway
8.8 mi
11m
Johnny Mercer Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
US 80
3.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 116 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington Island, GA and Albany, GA.
At end of road, turn right onto US 23; GA 87; GA 257
0.4 mi·31 sec·Eastman Cochran Highway
20
Continue on US 23; GA 87; GA 257
455 ft·13 sec·Golden Isles Highway
21
Turn left onto GA 257
8.7 mi·11 min·GA 257
22
Continue on US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 112; GA 257
1.2 mi·2 min·US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 112; GA 257
Use the left / right lanes.
23
Take the ramp onto US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 112; GA 257
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 112; GA 257
24
Continue on US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257
0.7 mi·1 min·US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257
25
Continue on US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 26; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257
26
At end of road, turn right onto US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257
0.5 mi·1 min·Broad Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
27
Turn left onto GA 27; GA 257
0.8 mi·1 min·McCormick Avenue
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on GA 27; GA 257
3.0 mi·4 min·Vienna Highway
29
Turn slight left onto GA 257
9.4 mi·12 min·Cordele Highway
30
Continue on GA 257
16 mi·21 min·Hawkinsville Road
31
Turn left
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward I-75 South: ValdostaUse the left lane.
32
Merge onto I 75
2.1 mi·2 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 99Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn right onto GA 300
35 mi·43 min·Georgia-Florida Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Continue on Cordele Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Cordele Road
Use the straight lane.
36
Turn right onto Old Cordele Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Old Cordele Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
37
Turn straight onto US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
449 ft·10 sec·Sylvester Highway
38
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
2.9 mi·4 min·East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
365 ft·16 sec·South Broadway Street
Use the right lane.
40
Turn left onto East Broad Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·East Broad Avenue
Use the left lane.
41
Turn right onto North Front Street
510 ft·12 sec·North Front Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
110 ft·2 sec·Pine Avenue
43
Continue on Pine Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Pine Avenue
44
Arrive at destination
Pine Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 56-minute drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Leaving Wilmington Island in the morning should give you plenty of daylight to reach Albany. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to make it a quick transit or add a brief break as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 116-mile stretch on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, as services might be less frequent there. Your estimated fuel cost is around $37.
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 117.3 miles from Wilmington Island, GA, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116 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 52 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.3 miles or 2h 16m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wilmington Island, 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 Wilmington Island, GA
This is one driving day of about 234.6 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Wilmington Island, 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 116 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 162.7 and 234.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
162.7 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257 / Broad Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257 / Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
192.1 mi into trip|~4h in
Turn left toward I-75 South: Valdosta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-75 South: Valdosta
8
194.7 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, Albany
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 99
Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, A...
6
230.4 mi into trip|~4h 48m in|Old Cordele Road
Turn right onto Old Cordele Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
234.1 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|Pine Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.69 one way
$73.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$40.11
$80.23
premium
$4.70
$43.42
$86.84
diesel
$5.61
$51.80
$103.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.4
0
$24.63
$11.26
Efficient EV
58.7
0
$20.53
$9.38
EV Truck/SUV
93.8
1
$32.84
$15.01
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wilmington Island, GA
Late night
in Wilmington Island on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Albany, GA
Late night
in Albany on Sunday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
5 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
4h 56m on the road
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 78% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on higher-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway covers 116 miles before you transition to other highways. You'll notice a shift as you move from the parkway onto GA 257, which will likely feel more like rural cruising with fewer exits. The profile suggests a generally smooth driving experience without significant elevation changes.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Georgia-Florida Parkway. You will hit about 26 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 162.7 miles in near US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257 / Broad Street.
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 234.6 miles you will encounter 26 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 162.7 miles (US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 192.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 194.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Albany is a city of 72,000 people (2019) in Dougherty County in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region. It is part of the Black Belt, the extensive area in the Deep South of cotton plantations. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the Albany Movement, a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in 1961. Ray Charles, the singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, was born here, and is remembered in a park with a statue.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 234.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. 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 Albany, 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 162.7 miles (US 341; US 129 Alternate; GA 27; GA 112; GA 230; GA 257 / Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 192.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 194.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Fort Pulaski National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Albany, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
