The drive from Savannah, GA to Dade County, GA covers 385.1 miles and takes about 7h 10m 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, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, I 75 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 162.1 miles on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.22 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
192.5 miles from Savannah, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 29m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 7h 10m highway drive covering 385.1 miles, with most of the trip on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 162.1 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 27 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 162.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway and Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in.
Route Complexity9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 385.1 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
3 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 16, US 17 North: Macon, Savannah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 16, US 17 North: Macon, Savannah
8
3.2 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 16 West: Macon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 16 West: Macon
8
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
8
251.4 mi into trip|~4h 37m in|I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
269.2 mi into trip|~4h 58m in|I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Savannah, GA and Dade County, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and Nashville.
Birmingham
228.6 mi in|~4h 8m|via I 75
Chattanooga
251.4 mi in|~4h 37m|via I 75
Kennesaw
269.2 mi in|~4h 58m|via I 75
Nashville
357 mi in|~6h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
162.1 mi
2h 54m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
98.4 mi
1h 47m
I 75
84.9 mi
1h 35m
I 24
16.7 mi
21m
I 59
7.6 mi
8m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
8m
West Bay Street
1.8 mi
2m
William F. Lynes Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
— 162.1 mi, about 2h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Savannah, GA and Dade County, GA.
1
Start on this road
145 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Fahm Street
72 ft·6 sec·North Fahm Street
3
Turn right onto West Bay Street
1.8 mi·2 min·West Bay Street
4
Turn left onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
360 ft·7 sec·Collins Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Continue on US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
455 ft·9 sec·Augusta Avenue
6
Take the ramp onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
0.2 mi·24 sec·US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Toward GA 21 South
7
Merge onto I 516; US 80; GA 21; GA 25; GA 26
0.8 mi·1 min·William F. Lynes Parkway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward I 16, US 17 North: Macon, SavannahUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 16 West: MaconUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
The midpoint is around 192.5 miles from Savannah, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 162.1 miles.
Arriving in Dade County, GA
The final approach into Dade County, 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 Dade County, 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 252.3
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 159.3
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...
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,...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$5
near mile 265.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115.5
1
$40.44
$18.48
Efficient EV
96.3
1
$33.70
$15.40
EV Truck/SUV
154
1
$53.91
$24.65
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 data refreshed 5 days ago
Origin
Savannah, GA
Late night
in Savannah on Wednesday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dade County, GA
Late night
in Dade County on Wednesday
Local time
12:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
3 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
7h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Savannah, GA to Dade County, GA covers 385.1 miles and takes about 7h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, I 75. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 192.5 miles from Savannah, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 385.1 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 3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 228.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Savannah, GA and Dade County, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and Nashville.
