Trip from Macon, GA to Walnut Grove, GA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

1h 45m

Distance

75 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 38m ★

6 AM

1h 46m

8 AM

2h 1m

10 AM

1h 51m

12 PM

1h 50m

3 PM

1h 52m

5 PM

2h 1m

8 PM

1h 41m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Macon, GA

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Walnut Grove, GA

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Trip Overview

The drive from Macon, GA to Walnut Grove, GA covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 23, Covington Street, State Route 36 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 23.1 miles on US 23. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.73 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.

Midpoint

37.5 miles from Macon, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 75 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 45m highway drive covering 75 miles, with most of the trip on US 23 and Covington Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 23.1 miles on US 23.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 23 is the longest continuous segment at about 23.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 23 and Covington Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.6 miles (GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway

Take the exit onto GA 540 / Fall Line Freeway

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

1.4 mi into trip | ~2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Atlanta

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes. Toward I 75 North: Atlanta

7.4 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward US 23, GA 87: Riverside Drive

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 171 Toward US 23, GA 87: Riverside Drive

7.6 mi into trip | ~10m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane.

38.7 mi into trip | ~53m in | GA 36 / Covington Street

Turn right onto GA 36 / Covington Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 23	23.1 mi	31m
Covington Street	8.2 mi	11m
State Route 36	8.2 mi	11m
Riverside Drive	7.5 mi	10m
John R. Williams Highway	5.8 mi	8m
I 75	5.5 mi	6m
GA 81	5.1 mi	7m
GA 36	4.7 mi	6m

Longest stretch: US 23 — 23.1 mi, about 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Macon, GA and Walnut Grove, GA.

Start on Mulberry Street

76 ft · 2 sec · Mulberry Street

Continue on Spring Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Spring Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on US 129; GA 11; GA 49; GA 540

524 ft · 21 sec · North Avenue

Take the exit onto GA 540

0.8 mi · 1 min · Fall Line Freeway

Use the left lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 42 sec

Toward I 75 North: Atlanta Use the straight / left lanes.

Merge onto I 75

5.5 mi · 6 min · I 75

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec

Exit 171 Toward US 23, GA 87: Riverside Drive Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

151 ft · 2 sec

Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto US 23; GA 87

1.2 mi · 1 min · Riverside Drive

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto US 23; GA 87

144 ft · 2 sec · Riverside Drive

Continue on US 23; GA 87

6.3 mi · 8 min · Riverside Drive

Enter roundabout onto US 23; GA 87

162 ft · 3 sec · US 23; GA 87

Continue on US 23; GA 87

6.7 mi · 9 min · US 23; GA 87

Continue on US 23; GA 87

13 mi · 17 min · US 23; GA 87

Enter roundabout onto US 23; GA 87

55 ft · 0 sec · US 23; GA 87

Continue on US 23; GA 87

159 ft · 2 sec · US 23; GA 87

Continue on US 23; GA 42

3.6 mi · 5 min · US 23; GA 42

Continue on US 23; GA 16; GA 42

0.4 mi · 53 sec · East 3rd Street

Turn right onto GA 36

8.2 mi · 11 min · Covington Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Enter roundabout onto GA 36

77 ft · 1 sec · GA 36

Continue on GA 36

4.7 mi · 6 min · GA 36

Enter roundabout onto GA 36

96 ft · 2 sec · State Route 36

Continue on GA 36

8.2 mi · 11 min · State Route 36

Continue on GA 36

1.8 mi · 2 min · Highway 36

Turn right onto GA 36

2.5 mi · 4 min · Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on GA 142

5.8 mi · 8 min · John R. Williams Highway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on GA 81

5.1 mi · 7 min · GA 81

Use the straight / right lanes.

Arrive at destination

GA 81

Trip Plan

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 37.5 miles from Macon, GA, or about 51m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.1 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 17 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 51m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Walnut Grove, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Macon, GA

This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Macon, GA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on US 23 for about 23.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 37.5 mi from Macon, GA · 51m into the drive

county seat of Butts County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jackson, GA

38 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

Forsyth, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jackson, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Macon, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Walnut Grove, GA

The final approach into Walnut Grove, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.73 one way

$23.46 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$12.82	$25.65
premium	$4.70	$13.88	$27.76
diesel	$5.61	$16.56	$33.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.5	$7.87	$3.60
Efficient EV	18.8	$6.56	$3.00
EV Truck/SUV	30	$10.50	$4.80

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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

Macon, GA

Night in Macon on Thursday

Local time

10:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Walnut Grove, GA

Night in Walnut Grove on Thursday

Local time

10:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Jackson, GA

38 mi in

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

1h 45m 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 Macon, GA to Walnut Grove, GA covers 75 miles and takes about 1h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 23, Covington Street, State Route 36. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 37.5 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 $11.73 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.