Winder to Macon is 92.2 miles and takes about 2h 17m via State Route 11, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, specifically Georgia, offering a straightforward journey between two points. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, so expect some variation in road type and speed. With a relatively short duration and manageable fuel cost, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.1 miles from Winder, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 11
28.4 mi
41m
GA 11
14 mi
19m
State Highway 11 South
10.8 mi
15m
Gray Highway
10.4 mi
13m
Monticello Highway
7.7 mi
10m
Monroe Highway
5.1 mi
7m
North Broad Street
4.5 mi
9m
Greene Settlement Road
3.6 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
State Route 11
— 28.4 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winder, GA and Macon, GA.
1
Start on GA 11; GA 53; GA 211
0.2 mi·35 sec·Broad Street
2
Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53
0.9 mi·1 min·East May Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto GA 11
2.5 mi·3 min·Monroe Highway
4
Continue on GA 11
1.6 mi·2 min·Christmas Avenue
5
Continue on GA 11
2.6 mi·4 min·Monroe Highway
6
Continue on GA 11
5.2 mi·9 min·State Route 11
7
Continue on GA 11
4.5 mi·9 min·North Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto GA 11
82 ft·1 sec·GA 11
9
Continue on GA 11
14 mi·19 min·GA 11
Use the straight lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto GA 11
125 ft·2 sec·State Route 11
11
Continue on GA 11
23 mi·32 min·State Route 11
12
Continue on GA 11
0.4 mi·52 sec·College Street
13
Turn slight left onto GA 11
0.2 mi·30 sec·West Greene Street
14
Turn right onto GA 11
186 ft·6 sec·Forsyth Street
15
Turn left onto GA 11; GA 16; GA 83; GA 212
0.2 mi·29 sec·West Washington Street
16
Turn right onto GA 11
0.6 mi·1 min·Hillsboro Street
17
Continue on GA 11
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 11 South
18
Continue on GA 11
7.7 mi·10 min·Monticello Highway
19
Turn right onto Greene Settlement Road
3.6 mi·5 min·Greene Settlement Road
20
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22
2.3 mi·3 min·Gray Bypass
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22
10 mi·13 min·Gray Highway
Use the right lane.
22
Turn slight left onto US 129 Alternate; GA 22
1.0 mi·2 min·2nd Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Mulberry Street
0.3 mi·58 sec·Mulberry Street
24
Arrive at destination
Mulberry Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 17m duration, leaving Winder in the morning allows ample time to reach Macon comfortably before evening. You won't need to split this drive, so pack snacks and plan for minimal stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $14, and while there are no designated stops mentioned, you can find services along State Route 11. A good tip for this route is to be aware of the transition points between highway and state road sections to adjust your driving accordingly.
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 46.1 miles from Winder, GA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.4 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 20 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 54m
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 Winder, 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 Winder, GA
This is one driving day of about 92.2 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Winder, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Route 11 for about 28.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 80.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street
Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
17.4 mi into trip|~31m in|GA 11
Enter roundabout onto GA 11
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
31.4 mi into trip|~50m in|GA 11 / State Route 11
Enter roundabout onto GA 11 / State Route 11
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Bypass
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Bypass
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
80.5 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 22 / Gray Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.42 one way
$28.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.76
$31.53
premium
$4.70
$17.06
$34.13
diesel
$5.61
$20.36
$40.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.68
$4.43
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.07
$3.69
EV Truck/SUV
36.9
0
$12.91
$5.90
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Winder, GA
Morning
in Winder on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Macon, GA
Morning
in Macon on Tuesday
Local time
6:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
24 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
2h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is a mixed drive, with 58% of it on highways. You'll encounter stretches that feel more like a typical interstate experience, interspersed with sections that are more akin to a state highway. The longest continuous stretch on State Route 11 measures 28.4 miles, providing a solid block of driving on this primary road. As you progress, the character of the drive will shift, so be prepared for changes in road conditions and speed limits.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on State Route 11.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 92.2 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles (GA 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.4 miles (GA 11 / State Route 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 92.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.4 miles on State Route 11. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.4 miles (GA 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 31.4 miles (GA 11 / State Route 11): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Macon, GA before heading back.
