The drive from Albany, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA covers 180.8 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 82, Brunswick Highway, US 17 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.3 miles on US 82.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
90.4 miles from Albany, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 2m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 180.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 6m highway drive covering 180.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 82 and Brunswick Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 120.3 miles on US 82.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 82 is the longest continuous segment at about 120.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and Brunswick Highway. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North Front 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 180.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.4 miles (North Front Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (South Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles (Carswell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|North Front Street
Enter roundabout onto North Front Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|South Broadway Street
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
110 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|Carswell Avenue
Turn left onto Carswell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
178.8 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|Demere Road
Enter roundabout onto Demere Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
180.3 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|1st Street
Enter roundabout onto 1st Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
120.3 mi
2h 34m
Brunswick Highway
23.5 mi
31m
US 17
9.6 mi
14m
Sylvester Highway
8.5 mi
11m
Carswell Avenue
3.7 mi
6m
East Oglethorpe Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
F. J. Torras Causeway
2.3 mi
3m
Demere Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 120.3 mi, about 2h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, GA and Saint Simons Island, GA.
1
Start on Pine Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Pine Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Enter roundabout onto North Front Street
75 ft·5 sec·North Front Street
3
Continue on North Front Street
510 ft·14 sec·North Front Street
4
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
0.4 mi·52 sec·West Broad Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
365 ft·9 sec·South Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 19 Business; US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
2.9 mi·4 min·East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
8.5 mi·11 min·Sylvester Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 82; GA 520
11 mi·15 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 82; GA 520
18 mi·25 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on US 82; US 319; GA 35; GA 520
1.5 mi·2 min·5th Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 82; GA 520
15 mi·18 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 82; US 129; GA 11; GA 520
1.1 mi·1 min·US 82; US 129; GA 11; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 82; GA 520
26 mi·32 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 82; GA 520
25 mi·29 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Carswell Avenue
3.7 mi·6 min·Carswell Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 1 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn straight
459 ft·20 sec
18
Merge onto US 82; GA 520
0.1 mi·12 sec·Reynolds Street
19
Continue on US 82; GA 520
23 mi·31 min·Brunswick Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.8 mi·5 min·US 82; GA 520
21
Continue on US 82; GA 520
8.4 mi·11 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 82; GA 520
5.2 mi·6 min·US 82; GA 520
23
Continue on US 82; GA 520
5.7 mi·7 min·US 82; GA 520
24
Continue on US 82; GA 520
0.2 mi·21 sec·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on US 17; US 82; GA 25; GA 520
0.7 mi·1 min·South Georgia Parkway
26
Continue on US 17; GA 25; GA 520
9.6 mi·14 min·US 17; GA 25; GA 520
27
Turn right onto Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway
2.0 mi·2 min·Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway
28
Continue on F. J. Torras Causeway
2.3 mi·3 min·F. J. Torras Causeway
29
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·14 sec
30
Continue on Sea Island Road
0.2 mi·17 sec·Sea Island Road
31
Turn right
0.1 mi·20 sec
32
Continue on Demere Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Demere Road
33
Enter roundabout onto Demere Road
114 ft·2 sec·Demere Road
34
Continue on Demere Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Demere Road
35
Enter roundabout onto East Beach Causeway
194 ft·3 sec·East Beach Causeway
36
Continue on East Beach Causeway
0.4 mi·59 sec·East Beach Causeway
37
Enter roundabout onto 1st Street
88 ft·2 sec·1st Street
38
Continue on 1st Street
353 ft·19 sec·1st Street
39
Turn left onto Bruce Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Bruce Drive
40
Turn right onto 8th Street
137 ft·6 sec·8th Street
41
Arrive at destination
8th Street
Trip Plan
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 90.4 miles from Albany, GA, or about 2h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.3 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 40 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.4 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Simons Island, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albany, 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 Albany, GA
This is one driving day of about 180.8 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Albany, 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 US 82 for about 120.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 90.4 mi from Albany, GA
· 2h 2m into the drive
The midpoint is around 90.4 miles from Albany, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before US 82 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.3 miles.
Arriving in Saint Simons Island, GA
The final approach into Saint Simons Island, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Saint Simons Island, GA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Frederica National Monument
National Monument
War was imminent as James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica in 1736, to help protect the British colonies from the Spanish in Florida. Fort Frederica illustrates the story of the War of Jenkins Ea...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 180.8
St Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man an...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
$15
near mile 168.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.27 one way
$56.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.91
$61.83
premium
$4.70
$33.46
$66.92
diesel
$5.61
$39.92
$79.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.2
0
$18.98
$8.68
Efficient EV
45.2
0
$15.82
$7.23
EV Truck/SUV
72.3
0
$25.31
$11.57
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 16, 2026
Origin
Albany, GA
Late night
in Albany on Friday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Sunny
WSW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Simons Island, GA
Late night
in Saint Simons Island on Friday
Local time
3:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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 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 6m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Albany, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA covers 180.8 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 82, Brunswick Highway, US 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 90.4 miles from Albany, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.27 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 180.8 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North Front Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (South Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles (Carswell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Albany, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Frederica National Monument and Cumberland Island National Seashore.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
