How far is Gainesville, GA from Saint Simons Island, GA?

The driving distance from Gainesville, GA to Saint Simons Island, GA is about 332.6 miles (535.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 260 miles (418.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
332.54 mi
06h 46m
Flight
260.06 mi
418.53 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gainesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
260.06 mi
Kilometers
418.53 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
332.54 mi
Kilometers
535.17 km
Drive Time
06h 46m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 06h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Saint Simons Island
Sun, May 31, 8:50 PM EDT
Return by in Gainesville
Mon, Jun 1, 3:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gainesville
2026-05-31T14:04
Arrive Saint Simons Island
Sun, May 31, 8:50 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:46 PM to 2:16 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:28 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gainesville
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Waynesboro
GA

City in Burke County, Georgia, United States

From Gainesville
166.3 mi
03h 23m
To Saint Simons Island
166.2 mi
03h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph E
Destination
75°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 1:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gainesville and Saint Simons Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville and Saint Simons Island.

  1. 1

    Start on Green Street

    11 m · 4 sec · Green Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Jesse Jewell Parkway Southeast

    56 m · 5 sec · Jesse Jewell Parkway Southeast

  3. 3

    Turn right onto E. E. Butler Parkway

    1.8 mi · 3 min · E. E. Butler Parkway

  4. 4

    Continue on Athens Highway

    14.3 mi · 17 min · Athens Highway

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    8.1 mi · 11 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    12.7 mi · 19 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit left

    2574 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Inner Loop 10

    2.7 mi · 3 min · Inner Loop 10

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 129 South, US 441 South, GA 10 Loop Inner: Watkinsville, Lexington

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Inner Loop 10

  10. 10

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

    1027 ft · 13 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Oconee Street

    643 ft · 14 sec · Oconee Street

  12. 12

    Continue on Lexington Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Lexington Road

  13. 13

    Continue on Lexington Highway

    1311 ft · 25 sec · Lexington Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Lexington Road

    5.8 mi · 9 min · Lexington Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Athens Road

    8.4 mi · 10 min · Athens Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Main Street

    1.4 km · 58 sec · Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Washington Road

    9.3 mi · 11 min · Washington Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Lexington Road

    16 mi · 18 min · Lexington Road

  19. 19

    Turn right

    21.9 mi · 27 min

  20. 20

    Take the ramp left toward I-20 East: Augusta

    1588 ft · 39 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto Carl Sanders Highway

    23.6 mi · 25 min · Carl Sanders Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward I 520 East, GA 232

    1107 ft · 27 sec

  23. 23

    Keep slight right to continue on I 520 East

    2493 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Continue on Bobby Jones Expressway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Bobby Jones Expressway

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25, GA 121

    1.1 km · 1 min

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Peach Orchard Road

    4.3 mi · 5 min · Peach Orchard Road

  27. 27

    Continue on Nellie Drive

    1412 ft · 22 sec · Nellie Drive

  28. 28

    Continue on Peach Orchard Road

    17.2 mi · 20 min · Peach Orchard Road

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Liberty Street

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Liberty Street

  30. 30

    Turn right

    1.8 mi · 3 min

  31. 31

    At the end of the road, turn left

    20 mi · 23 min

  32. 32

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 1 min

  33. 33

    Continue straight

    18.4 mi · 21 min

  34. 34

    Continue straight

    4.4 mi · 5 min

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Parkway

    7.3 mi · 10 min · Veterans Memorial Parkway

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right

    70 m · 6 sec

  37. 37

    Turn slight right onto Highway 67

    8.4 mi · 12 min · Highway 67

  38. 38

    Continue straight

    2.8 mi · 4 min

  39. 39

    Take the ramp left toward I 16 East: Savannah

    1276 ft · 31 sec

  40. 40

    Merge slight left onto Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway

    30.4 mi · 33 min · Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway

  41. 41

    Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South: Brunswick, Jacksonville

    2418 ft · 32 sec

  42. 42

    Merge slight left

    60 mi · 1 hr 4 min

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward US 17, GA 25 Spur: Brunswick, Veterans Memorial, North Golden Isles Parkway

    2202 ft · 56 sec

  44. 44

    Turn left onto Golden Isles Parkway

    4.7 mi · 8 min · Golden Isles Parkway

  45. 45

    Continue on Glynn Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Glynn Avenue

  46. 46

    Turn left onto Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway

    2 mi · 3 min · Fernando Joseph Torras Causeway

  47. 47

    Continue on F. J. Torras Causeway

    2.3 mi · 4 min · F. J. Torras Causeway

  48. 48

    Keep slight left

    577 ft · 14 sec

  49. 49

    Continue on Sea Island Road

    979 ft · 17 sec · Sea Island Road

  50. 50

    Turn right

    674 ft · 21 sec

  51. 51

    Continue on Demere Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Demere Road

  52. 52

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Demere Road

    35 m · 2 sec · Demere Road

  53. 53

    Exit the roundabout onto Demere Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Demere Road

  54. 54

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East Beach Causeway

    59 m · 4 sec · East Beach Causeway

  55. 55

    Exit the roundabout onto East Beach Causeway

    2160 ft · 59 sec · East Beach Causeway

  56. 56

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 1st Street

    27 m · 3 sec · 1st Street

  57. 57

    Exit the roundabout onto 1st Street

    108 m · 19 sec · 1st Street

  58. 58

    Turn left onto Bruce Drive

    1923 ft · 1 min · Bruce Drive

  59. 59

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    42 m · 6 sec · 8th Street

  60. 60

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 8th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gainesville and Saint Simons Island.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
60 steps
21 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
20
4 merges, 16 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 95 South
60.5 mi · 18%
Athens Highway
35.6 mi · 11%
Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway
30.4 mi · 9%
Liberty Street
26.2 mi · 8%
Carl Sanders Highway
23.6 mi · 7%
Lexington Road
23.3 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

I 95 South

Merge slight left

60 mi · 01h 04m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 46m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+72.6 mi
260 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waynesboro
03h 23m from Gainesville
Leave By
10:28 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Gainesville and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saint Simons Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gainesville to Saint Simons Island?

The road trip is about 332.6 miles (535.2 km) and usually takes 06h 46m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Waynesboro is a useful midpoint, sitting about 166.3 miles from Gainesville and 166.2 miles from Saint Simons Island.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 260 miles (418.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.46 one way or $92.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Gainesville and Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Saint Simons Island.

Stop Ideas Near Waynesboro

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Waynesboro, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Waynesboro.

RAIL

Denmark

85 mi away
200 West Baruch Street
RAIL

Yemassee

118 mi away
9 Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gainesville and Saint Simons Island. Straight-line distance: 260.06 mi (418.53 km).

Gainesville

#1 Gainesville

The most populous city in Hall County, Georgia.

Population44,213
Coordinates34.2978800, -83.8240700
Altitude381
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Saint Simons Island

Saint Simons Island is a place in Georgia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates31.1505100, -81.3695400
Altitude2
CountryUnited States
Start: Gainesville (-83.82407, 34.29788)
End: Saint Simons Island (-81.36954, 31.15051)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 535 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.73 gal
44.42 L · about $46.46
Round trip
$92.93
23.46 gal · 88.84 L
Estimated CO2
104.2 kg one way
Round trip: 208.5 kg / 460 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $46.46 $92.93
Mid-grade $4.43 $51.95 $103.90
Premium $4.78 $56.05 $112.09
Diesel $5.62 $65.97 $131.94

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Georgia · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Gainesville and Saint Simons Island. The current time is 14:04:07.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.