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Trip from Macon, GA to Buford, GA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 14m

Distance

117 mi

188 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 5m ★
6 AM
2h 14m
8 AM
2h 33m
10 AM
2h 21m
12 PM
2h 19m
3 PM
2h 22m
5 PM
2h 32m
8 PM
2h 9m

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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Downtown Macon, GA, GA

Macon, GA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Gwinnett and Hall counties, Georgia, United States

Buford, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Macon, GA to Buford, GA covers 117 miles and takes about 2h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 75, Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, Interstate Highway 85 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.1 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.30 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

58.5 miles from Macon, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 75 62.1 mi 1h 7m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter 17.3 mi 19m
Interstate Highway 85 15.4 mi 16m
Terrell Starr Parkway 10.1 mi 11m
Lanier Parkway 3.5 mi 3m
Northeast Expressway 1.2 mi 1m
South Lee Street 1.1 mi 2m
Fall Line Freeway 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 75 — 62.1 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Mulberry Street

76 ft · 2 sec · Mulberry Street
2

Continue on Spring Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Spring Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

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

524 ft · 21 sec · North Avenue
4

Take the exit onto GA 540

0.8 mi · 1 min · Fall Line Freeway
Use the left lane.
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Merge onto I 75

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min · I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 675

10 mi · 11 min · Terrell Starr Parkway
Exit 227 Toward I 675 North: Augusta, Greenville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 285 East: Augusta, Greenville Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 285

17 mi · 19 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 52 sec
Exit 33 Toward I 85: Greenville, Atlanta Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

520 ft · 6 sec
Toward I 85 North: Greenville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 85 North: Greenville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 85

1.2 mi · 1 min · Northeast Expressway
14

Continue on I 85

15 mi · 16 min · Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 85

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 85
16

Keep slight left at fork onto I 985

3.5 mi · 3 min · Lanier Parkway
Exit 113 Toward I 985 North: Gainesville Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 4 Toward US 23 South, GA 20: Buford, Cumming Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn left onto GA 20

0.5 mi · 59 sec · Buford Drive
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto South Lee Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Lee Street
20

Turn right onto GA 13

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Buford Highway Northeast
21

Turn left onto Garnett Street

460 ft · 14 sec · Garnett Street
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right

292 ft · 10 sec
23

Continue on South Harris Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Harris Street
24

Turn right

26 ft · 1 sec
25

Arrive at destination

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 58.5 miles from Macon, GA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.1 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 26 miles or 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.5 miles or 1h 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 1h 48m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buford, 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 117 miles and 2h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Macon, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 62.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Lake City, GA, GA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake City, GA

59 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

Barnesville, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

McDonough, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.5 miles from Macon, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 miles.

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 64 and 113.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
64 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | I 675 / Terrell Starr Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 675 / Terrell Starr Parkway toward I 675 North: Augusta, Greenville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 227 Toward I 675 North: Augusta, Greenville
8
74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 285 East: Augusta, Greenville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 285 East: Augusta, Greenville
8
92 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in

Take the exit toward I 85: Greenville, Atlanta

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 33 Toward I 85: Greenville, Atlanta
8
110.3 mi into trip | ~2h 4m in | I 985 / Lanier Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 985 / Lanier Parkway toward I 985 North: Gainesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 113 Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
8
113.9 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Take the exit toward US 23 South, GA 20: Buford, Cumming

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 4 Toward US 23 South, GA 20: Buford, Cumming

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$18.30 one way

$36.59 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $20.01 $40.01
premium $4.70 $21.65 $43.31
diesel $5.61 $25.83 $51.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 35.1 0 $12.29 $5.62
Efficient EV 29.3 0 $10.24 $4.68
EV Truck/SUV 46.8 0 $16.38 $7.49

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 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 14, 2026

Origin

Macon, GA

Afternoon in Macon on Saturday

Local time

1:49 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Clear

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 1:34AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:32PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA

Destination

Buford, GA

Afternoon in Buford on Saturday

Local time

1:49 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

52°F

Lake City, GA

59 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

6 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

2h 14m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
View on nps.gov
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...

6 mi from route ~16 min detour Free near mile 76.7
View on nps.gov
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...

8 mi from route ~19 min detour $5 near mile 96.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

117 mi in 2h 14m, mostly highway — 62.1 mi of that is on I 75.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.1 mi on I 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64 miles in near I 675 / Terrell Starr Parkway.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 19 significant decision points across 117 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 64 miles (I 675 / Terrell Starr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Buford, GA, road signs point toward Greenville and Atlanta.

Greenville

64 mi in | ~1h 11m | via I 675

Atlanta

92 mi in | ~1h 44m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 117 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 62.1 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Buford, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 64 miles (I 675 / Terrell Starr Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buford, GA before heading back.

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.

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Return Trip

Buford, GA to Macon, GA

Plan the drive back the other way.

117.2 mi 2h 17m

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