The drive from Wilmington Island, GA to Macon, GA covers 175.7 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, Johnny Mercer Boulevard, US 80 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 163 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
87.8 miles from Wilmington Island, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
163 mi
2h 55m
Johnny Mercer Boulevard
3.5 mi
6m
US 80
3.5 mi
5m
East 37th Street
2.2 mi
3m
Penn Waller Road
0.9 mi
2m
GA 204
0.7 mi
1m
2nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Bee Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 163 mi, about 2h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilmington Island, GA and Macon, GA.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 174.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Wigmore Road
Turn right onto Wigmore Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Gloucester Road
Turn right onto Gloucester Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Olde Towne Road
Turn right onto Olde Towne Road
Navigation decision point
5
11.6 mi into trip|~22m in|I 16; US 17 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Merge onto I 16; US 17 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
174.6 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Take the exit toward GA 22: Second Street, Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1B
Toward GA 22: Second Street, Macon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.48 one way
$54.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.04
$60.08
premium
$4.70
$32.52
$65.04
diesel
$5.61
$38.79
$77.58
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: 61.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.7
0
$18.45
$8.43
Efficient EV
43.9
0
$15.37
$7.03
EV Truck/SUV
70.3
0
$24.60
$11.24
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Wilmington Island, GA
Morning
in Wilmington Island on Sunday
Local time
11:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, GA
Morning
in Macon on Sunday
Local time
11:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°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
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
3h 20m 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.
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 175.7
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
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?
175.7 mi in 3h 20m, mostly highway — 163 mi of that is on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163 mi on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Johnny Mercer Boulevard. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Wigmore Road.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Wilmington Island, GA to Macon, GA is easy. At 3h 20m with 95% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Wigmore Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Gloucester Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Olde Towne Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 175.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 163 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Wigmore Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Gloucester Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Olde Towne Road): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Macon, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
