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Trip from Winder, GA to Savannah, GA

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

4h 57m

Distance

238.3 mi

384 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 44m ★
6 AM
4h 57m
8 AM
5h 24m
10 AM
5h 6m
12 PM
5h 4m
3 PM
5h 8m
5 PM
5h 23m
8 PM
4h 49m

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

city in Barrow County, Georgia, United States of America

Winder, GA

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, United States

Savannah, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 238.3-mile drive from Winder, GA to Savannah, GA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 4 hours and 57 minutes. You'll primarily travel on Savannah Highway and GA 24, with a portion on Carl Sanders Highway, experiencing a mixed drive profile. With a fuel cost estimated at $37 and only one recommended stop, it’s an efficient journey through Georgia's Southeast region. This route is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay.

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

119.2 miles from Winder, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 24m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 238.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

This route offers a 30% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster travel and more local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 38.3 miles on Savannah Highway, providing a good segment for steady progress. The 'mixed drive' profile suggests you'll transition between different types of roadways, keeping the driving experience varied. Expect to navigate through different Georgia landscapes as you make your way toward the coast.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Savannah Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 238.3 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 0.2 miles (GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles (US 29; US 78; GA 8): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.8 miles (US 78): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street

Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
17.2 mi into trip | ~22m in | US 29; US 78; GA 8

Take the exit onto US 29; US 78; GA 8 toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Outer: University of Georgia, Lexington, Hartwell

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

Use the right lane. Toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Oute...
8
23.8 mi into trip | ~30m in | US 78

Take the exit onto US 78 toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington Road

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 8 Toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington R...
7
88.1 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Take the ramp toward I-20 East: Augusta

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I-20 East: Augusta
7
112 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in

Take the exit toward I 520 East, GA 232

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. Toward I 520 East, GA 232

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Winder, GA and Savannah, GA, road signs point toward Lexington and Hartwell.

Lexington

17.2 mi in | ~22m | via US 29; US 78; GA 8

Hartwell

17.2 mi in | ~22m | via US 29; US 78; GA 8

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Savannah Highway 38.3 mi 44m
GA 24 28.8 mi 41m
Carl Sanders Highway 23.6 mi 25m
Lexington Road 23.2 mi 29m
US 78 22.3 mi 28m
Peach Orchard Road 21.4 mi 25m
North Columbia Avenue 13.4 mi 16m
University Parkway 11.8 mi 14m
Longest stretch: Savannah Highway — 38.3 mi, about 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Winder, GA and Savannah, GA.

1

Start on GA 11; GA 53; GA 211

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Broad Street
2

Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53

1.0 mi · 1 min · East May Street
Use the left lane.
3

Continue on GA 8; GA 53

1.3 mi · 1 min · Atlanta Highway Southeast
4

Turn slight right

193 ft · 3 sec
5

Turn slight right onto GA 8; GA 53

2.3 mi · 3 min · Hog Mountain Road
Use the left lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 35 sec
7

Merge onto US 29; GA 8; GA 316

12 mi · 14 min · University Parkway
Use the left lane.
8

Take the exit onto US 29; US 78; GA 8

0.4 mi · 29 sec · US 29; US 78; GA 8
Toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Outer: University of Georgia, Lexington, Hartwell Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto US 29; US 78; GA 8; GA 10 Loop

6.2 mi · 7 min · Outer Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit onto US 78

0.4 mi · 49 sec · US 78
Exit 8 Toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington Road Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on US 78; GA 10

1.4 mi · 2 min · Lexington Road
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on US 78; GA 10

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Lexington Highway
13

Continue on US 78; GA 10

5.8 mi · 8 min · Lexington Road
Use the left lane.
14

Continue on US 78; GA 10

8.4 mi · 9 min · Athens Road
15

Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 22

0.9 mi · 58 sec · Main Street
16

Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 22

9.3 mi · 10 min · Washington Road
17

Continue on US 78; GA 10

16 mi · 18 min · Lexington Road
18

Turn right onto US 78; GA 10; GA 17

22 mi · 27 min · US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Use the straight lane.
19

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I-20 East: Augusta Use the left lane.
20

Merge onto I 20

24 mi · 25 min · Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 520 East, GA 232 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 520 East
23

Continue on I 520

6.7 mi · 7 min · Bobby Jones Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward US 25, GA 121
25

Turn right onto US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT

4.3 mi · 5 min · Peach Orchard Road
26

Continue on US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT

0.3 mi · 21 sec · Nellie Drive
27

Continue on US 25; GA 121; I 3 FUT

17 mi · 20 min · Peach Orchard Road
28

Turn right onto US 25; GA 121

2.7 mi · 4 min · Liberty Street
29

Continue on GA 24

28 mi · 40 min · GA 24
30

Take the ramp onto GA 24

0.3 mi · 39 sec · GA 24
31

Merge onto US 301; GA 24; GA 73

4.4 mi · 5 min · Burton's Ferry Highway
32

Turn left onto US 301 Business; GA 73

2.6 mi · 3 min · US 301 Business; GA 73
33

At end of road, turn left onto GA 21; I 3 FUT

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Perimeter Road
34

Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT

38 mi · 44 min · Savannah Highway
Use the straight lane.
35

Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT

0.1 mi · 7 sec · Augusta Highway
36

Continue on GA 21; I 3 FUT

13 mi · 16 min · North Columbia Avenue
Use the straight lane.
37

Turn left onto GA 307; Alternate GA 21

1.1 mi · 1 min · Bourne Avenue
Use the left lane.
38

Turn right onto GA 25

2.2 mi · 3 min · Main Street
39

At end of road, turn left onto US 80; GA 26

465 ft · 7 sec · Main Street
40

Continue on US 80; GA 26

2.5 mi · 4 min · West Bay Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
41

Turn left

117 ft · 11 sec
42

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

For this 4 hour and 57 minute journey, consider an early morning departure from Winder, GA to maximize your daylight hours and arrive in Savannah with ample time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $37, pacing is straightforward. The longest stretch is 38.3 miles, so plan your break around that. Keep an eye out for the transition in scenery as you move from the inland Southeast region toward the coastal environment of Savannah.

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 119.2 miles from Winder, GA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.3 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 52 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 119.2 miles or 2h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Savannah, GA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Winder, 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 Winder, GA

This is one driving day of about 238.3 miles and 4h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Winder, 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 Savannah Highway for about 38.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 119.2 mi from Winder, GA · 2h 24m into the drive

consolidated city-county in Richmond County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Augusta, GA

119 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

Washington, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Augusta, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 119.2 miles from Winder, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Savannah, GA

The final approach into Savannah, 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 Savannah, GA.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.26 one way

$74.53 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $40.75 $81.49
premium $4.70 $44.10 $88.21
diesel $5.61 $52.61 $105.23

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 71.5 0 $25.02 $11.44
Efficient EV 59.6 0 $20.85 $9.53
EV Truck/SUV 95.3 1 $33.36 $15.25

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Winder, GA

Night in Winder on Thursday

Local time

9:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Savannah, GA

Night in Savannah on Thursday

Local time

9:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°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

6 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 57m 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 Winder, GA to Savannah, GA covers 238.3 miles and takes about 4h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Savannah Highway, GA 24, Carl Sanders Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 119.2 miles from Winder, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.26 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 is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 238.3 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 0.2 miles (GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles (US 29; US 78; GA 8): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.8 miles (US 78): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Winder, GA and Savannah, GA, road signs point toward Lexington and Hartwell.

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