How far is Gainesville, GA from Waycross, GA?

The driving distance from Gainesville, GA to Waycross, GA is about 301.8 miles (485.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 229.5 miles (369.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
301.82 mi
05h 46m
Flight
229.53 mi
369.4 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
229.53 mi
Kilometers
369.4 km
Flight Time
00h 27m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.82 mi
Kilometers
485.74 km
Drive Time
05h 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 05h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waycross
Thu, Apr 23, 6:07 AM EDT
Return by in Gainesville
Thu, Apr 23, 11:53 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gainesville
2026-04-23T00:20
Arrive Waycross
Thu, Apr 23, 6:07 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:47 AM to 1:47 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gainesville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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
Perry
GA

City in Houston and Peach Counties, Georgia, United States

From Gainesville
151.1 mi
02h 53m
To Waycross
150.8 mi
02h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W
Destination
87°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gainesville and Waycross.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville and Waycross.

  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

    1.2 mi · 2 min · E. E. Butler Parkway

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward I 985 South: Atlanta

    2379 ft · 58 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Lanier Parkway

    21.2 mi · 23 min · Lanier Parkway

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    6.6 mi · 7 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    10.1 mi · 11 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 285 Bypass East: Augusta, Macon

    1.2 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 285 South: Augusta, Macon

    2069 ft · 27 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

    17.5 mi · 20 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 675 South: Macon

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Continue on Terrell Starr Parkway

    10.2 mi · 12 min · Terrell Starr Parkway

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    49.3 mi · 53 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Larry Justice Highway

    16.1 mi · 17 min · Larry Justice Highway

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Fall Line Freeway

    93.3 mi · 1 hr 40 min · Fall Line Freeway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward 2nd Street

    1360 ft · 33 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    31 m · 8 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto West 2nd Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West 2nd Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Tift Avenue South

    1175 ft · 38 sec · Tift Avenue South

  20. 20

    Turn left onto 5th Street East

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 5th Street East

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    15.2 mi · 19 min

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  23. 23

    Continue straight

    25.7 mi · 32 min

  24. 24

    Continue straight

    22.9 mi · 27 min

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Fulford Road

    2525 ft · 58 sec · Fulford Road

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Albany Avenue

    4.8 mi · 9 min · Albany Avenue

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Church Street

    29 m · 4 sec · Church Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Church Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gainesville and Waycross.

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
28 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Fall Line Freeway
93.3 mi · 31%
5th Street East
66.2 mi · 22%
Terrell Starr Parkway
59.5 mi · 20%
Lanier Parkway
37.9 mi · 13%
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
17.5 mi · 6%
Larry Justice Highway
16.1 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Fall Line Freeway

Merge slight left onto Fall Line Freeway

93.3 mi · 01h 40m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+72.3 mi
229.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Perry
02h 53m from Gainesville
Leave By
5:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Gainesville and Sunny near Waycross.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gainesville to Waycross?

The road trip is about 301.8 miles (485.7 km) and usually takes 05h 46m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Perry is a useful midpoint, sitting about 151.1 miles from Gainesville and 150.8 miles from Waycross.

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

The direct path is about 229.5 miles (369.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 72.3 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.18 one way or $84.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Gainesville and Sunny near Waycross.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gainesville and Waycross. Straight-line distance: 229.53 mi (369.4 km).

Gainesville

#1 Gainesville

The most populous city in Hall County, Georgia.

Population44,213
Coordinates34.2978800, -83.8240700
Altitude381
CountryUnited States
Waycross

#2 Waycross

City in Ware County, Georgia, United States

Population13,466
Coordinates31.2136800, -82.3557000
Altitude39
CountryUnited States
Start: Gainesville (-83.82407, 34.29788)
End: Waycross (-82.3557, 31.21368)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 486 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.65 gal
40.32 L · about $42.18
Round trip
$84.37
21.3 gal · 80.64 L
Estimated CO2
94.6 kg one way
Round trip: 189.3 kg / 417 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $42.18 $84.37
Mid-grade $4.43 $47.17 $94.34
Premium $4.78 $50.89 $101.77
Diesel $5.62 $59.90 $119.79

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 · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Gainesville and Waycross. The current time is 00:20:42.

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.