The drive from Lakeland, GA to Savannah, GA covers 169.2 miles and takes about 3h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 95, US 84, Brunswick Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.4 miles on I 95.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.46 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
84.6 miles from Lakeland, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 169.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 37m highway drive covering 169.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 95 and US 84. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.4 miles on I 95.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 95 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 159.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 169.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 159.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.5 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 23 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
159.2 mi into trip|~3h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 16 East: Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99A
Toward I 16 East: Savannah
6
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
168.1 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 167A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
6
168.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
169.2 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Turn uturn
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 95
55.4 mi
59m
US 84
26 mi
36m
Brunswick Highway
23.5 mi
31m
US 82
16.1 mi
20m
GA 99
15.8 mi
21m
GA 37
14.1 mi
19m
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
8.3 mi
10m
West Main Street
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 95
— 55.4 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, GA and Savannah, GA.
1
Start on US 129; US 221; GA 11; GA 31; GA 37; GA 122; GA 135
2.6 mi·4 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on US 129; GA 11; GA 37
0.3 mi·25 sec·US 129; GA 11; GA 37
3
Turn straight onto GA 37
14 mi·19 min·GA 37
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; GA 38
8.0 mi·12 min·US 84; GA 38
5
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
93 ft·2 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on Main Street
1.4 mi·2 min·Main Street
7
Enter roundabout onto US 84; GA 38
90 ft·2 sec·US 84; GA 38
8
Continue on US 84; GA 38
18 mi·23 min·US 84; GA 38
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto Wadley Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Wadley Road
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on Glenmore Avenue
1.1 mi·2 min·Glenmore Avenue
11
Continue on South Nicholls Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·South Nicholls Street
12
Turn right onto Francis Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·Francis Street
13
Turn slight right onto Jenkins Street
502 ft·16 sec·Jenkins Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Screven Avenue
0.4 mi·38 sec·Screven Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 1 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn straight
459 ft·20 sec
17
Merge onto US 82; GA 520
0.1 mi·12 sec·Reynolds Street
18
Continue on US 82; GA 520
23 mi·31 min·Brunswick Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.8 mi·5 min·US 82; GA 520
20
Continue on US 82; GA 520
8.4 mi·11 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 82; GA 520
3.0 mi·3 min·US 82; GA 520
22
Turn left onto GA 99
13 mi·18 min·GA 99
Use the left lane.
23
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
120 ft·1 sec·GA 99
24
Continue on GA 99
2.4 mi·3 min·GA 99
25
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
152 ft·4 sec·GA 99
26
Continue on GA 99
0.3 mi·26 sec·GA 99
27
Enter roundabout
181 ft·3 sec
Toward I 95 North: Savannah
28
Continue
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 95 North: Savannah
29
Merge onto I 95
55 mi·59 min·I 95
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 95
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 95
31
Take the exit
0.6 mi·41 sec
Exit 99AToward I 16 East: SavannahUse the slight right lane.
The midpoint is around 84.6 miles from Lakeland, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Savannah, GA
The final approach into Savannah, 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 Savannah, GA.
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...
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 169.2
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...
28 mi from route
~70 min detour
$15
near mile 87.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.46 one way
$52.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.93
$57.86
premium
$4.70
$31.32
$62.63
diesel
$5.61
$37.36
$74.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.8
0
$17.77
$8.12
Efficient EV
42.3
0
$14.80
$6.77
EV Truck/SUV
67.7
0
$23.69
$10.83
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Lakeland, GA
Morning
in Lakeland on Saturday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Savannah, GA
Morning
in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
7:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
4 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
3h 37m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lakeland, GA to Savannah, GA covers 169.2 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 95, US 84, Brunswick Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.6 miles from Lakeland, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.46 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 169.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 159.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 167.5 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Lakeland, GA to Savannah, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Frederica National Monument, Fort Pulaski National Monument and Cumberland Island National Seashore.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
