Origin
Macon, GA
Afternoon in Macon on Thursday
Local time
4:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Macon, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 19m
Distance
230.5 mi
371 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 6m
★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Macon, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Saint Simons Island, GA
Jim Patrick
Trip Overview
The drive from Macon, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA covers 230.5 miles and takes about 4h 19m 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, I 95, Golden Isles Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.5 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.05 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
115.3 miles from Macon, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 19m. Total distance: 230.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 19m highway drive covering 230.5 miles, with most of the trip on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I 95. The longest continuous stretch is about 154.5 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 154.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and I 95. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 230.5 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 0.2 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 16 East: Savannah
Navigation decision point
Toward I 16 East: Savannah
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Merge onto I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
155.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: Brunswick, Jacksonville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 95 South: Brunswick, Jacksonville
6
216.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 17, GA 25 Spur: Brunswick, Veterans Memorial, North Golden Isles Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 38
Toward US 17, GA 25 Spur: Brunswick, Veterans M...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Macon, GA and Saint Simons Island, GA, road signs point toward Jacksonville and Veterans Memorial.
Jacksonville
155.7 mi in
|
~2h 48m
Veterans Memorial
216.1 mi in
|
~3h 53m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway | 154.5 mi | 2h 45m |
| I 95 | 60 mi | 1h 4m |
| Golden Isles Parkway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| F. J. Torras Causeway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Demere Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Glynn Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Riverside Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 154.5 mi, about 2h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Macon, GA and Saint Simons Island, GA.
1
Start on Mulberry Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
Mulberry Street
2
Continue on Spring Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Spring Street
3
Turn right onto US 129; GA 11; GA 87
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Riverside Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Turn left onto US 80; GA 87
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 16 East: Savannah
6
Merge onto I 16
154 mi
·
2 hr 45 min
·
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 95 South: Brunswick, Jacksonville
8
Merge onto I 95
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 95
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 38
Toward US 17, GA 25 Spur: Brunswick, Veterans Memorial, North Golden Isles Parkway
10
Turn left onto GA 25 Spur
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Golden Isles Parkway
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Continue on US 17; GA 25
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Glynn Avenue
12
Turn left onto Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway
13
Continue on F. J. Torras Causeway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
F. J. Torras Causeway
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
15
Continue on Sea Island Road
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Sea Island Road
16
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
17
Continue on Demere Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Demere Road
18
Enter roundabout onto Demere Road
114 ft
·
2 sec
·
Demere Road
19
Continue on Demere Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Demere Road
20
Enter roundabout onto East Beach Causeway
194 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Beach Causeway
21
Continue on East Beach Causeway
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Beach Causeway
22
Enter roundabout onto 1st Street
88 ft
·
2 sec
·
1st Street
23
Continue on 1st Street
353 ft
·
19 sec
·
1st Street
24
Turn left onto Bruce Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Bruce Drive
25
Turn right onto 8th Street
137 ft
·
6 sec
·
8th Street
26
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 115.3 miles from Macon, GA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.5 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 51 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.3 miles or 2h 5m 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 24m
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 Macon, 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 Macon, GA
This is one driving day of about 230.5 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Macon, 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 154.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 115.3 mi from Macon, GA · 2h 5m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
115 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.3 miles from Macon, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.5 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.05 one way
$72.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $39.41 | $78.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $42.66 | $85.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.89 | $101.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.1 | 0 | $24.20 | $11.06 |
| Efficient EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.17 | $9.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.2 | 1 | $32.27 | $14.75 |
Gas CO2
81 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.
Destination
Saint Simons Island, GA
Afternoon in Saint Simons Island on Thursday
Local time
4:36 PM
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
12 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
4h 19m 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 Macon, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA covers 230.5 miles and takes about 4h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, I 95, Golden Isles Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.3 miles from Macon, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.05 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 230.5 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 0.2 miles (US 129; GA 11; GA 87 / Riverside Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 16 / Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Macon, GA and Saint Simons Island, GA, road signs point toward Jacksonville and Veterans Memorial.
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