Origin
Savannah, GA
Afternoon in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 37m
Distance
169.4 mi
273 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Good
3 DC fast
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Savannah, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Savannah, GA to Lakeland, GA is 169.4 miles and takes about 3h 37m via I 95 and US 82/84, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast coast inland. Expect a straightforward drive focused on efficient travel, making it a good option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. It's a single-day journey that doesn't demand extensive planning, allowing for flexibility.
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
84.7 miles from Savannah, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 95 | 55.6 mi | 59m |
| US 82 | 39.8 mi | 52m |
| US 84 | 26 mi | 36m |
| GA 37 | 17 mi | 23m |
| GA 99 | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| Grants Ferry Road | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway | 5.9 mi | 6m |
| West Bay Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Savannah, GA and Lakeland, GA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto North Fahm Street
Turn right onto West Bay Street
Turn left onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Continue on US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Take the ramp onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26
Merge onto I 516; US 80; GA 21; GA 25; GA 26
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 16
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
Continue on GA 99
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
Continue on GA 99
Turn slight left onto GA 99
Turn right onto US 82; GA 520
Continue on US 82; GA 520
Continue on US 82; GA 520
Continue on US 82; GA 520
Turn right onto US 1 Business
Turn left onto Screven Avenue
Turn right onto Jenkins Street
Continue on US 84; GA 38
Turn left onto South Nicholls Street
Continue on Glenmore Avenue
Continue on Wadley Road
Turn left onto US 84; GA 38
Enter roundabout onto Main Street
Continue on Main Street
Enter roundabout onto US 84; GA 38
Continue on US 84; GA 38
Continue on US 84; GA 38
Continue on US 84; GA 38
Turn right onto GA 37
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 37 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. Leaving Savannah in the morning will give you ample time to reach Lakeland with plenty of daylight to spare. There's only one recommended stop, so you can be strategic about when and where you pull over for fuel or a break, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition from I 95 to US 82/84, as services might be more spaced out on the latter highways.
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.
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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.7 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Savannah, 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 Savannah, GA
This is one driving day of about 169.4 miles and 3h 37m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.7 miles from Savannah, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 66.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26 / Collins Street
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward I 16 West: Macon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 95 North: Airport, Florence SC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward GA 99: GA 99
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$26.49 one way
$52.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.96 | $57.93 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.35 | $62.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.40 | $74.80 |
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: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers · Coverage: good
Circle K Charging Station
Columbus, Georgia
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Homerville, Georgia
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Lakeland, Georgia
1 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.79 | $8.13 |
| Efficient EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.82 | $6.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.72 | $10.84 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Savannah on Saturday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Lakeland on Saturday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Monument
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...
National Seashore
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 91% of your travel on major roads. You'll spend most of your time on I 95, which offers a consistent pace, before transitioning to US 82 and US 84. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is about 55.6 miles on I 95. This means you can settle in for long periods of steady driving, with fewer transitions and generally higher speed limits for much of the journey.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 95 and US 82. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26 / Collins Street.
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 25 significant decision points across 169.4 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 1.9 miles (US 80; GA 25 Connector; GA 26 / Collins Street): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Savannah, GA to Lakeland, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Florence along the way.
Florence
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 169.4 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 (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Savannah, GA or browse trips ending in Lakeland, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.