Trip from Atlanta, GA to Augusta, GA

Drive Time

2h 44m

Distance

148 mi

238 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m

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

Downtown Atlanta, GA, GA

Atlanta, GA

Kelly

Downtown Augusta, GA, GA

Augusta, GA

Gustavo Denuncio

Trip Overview

Traveling from Atlanta to Augusta spans 148 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 44 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trek across Georgia's Southeast region, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip. You can expect to spend roughly $24 on fuel for the journey. Navigating this route involves a combination of the Carl Sanders Highway, the Purple Heart Highway, and the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. Since you only need one planned stop, the trip is efficient and straightforward, making it an ideal choice if you are looking to reach your destination without a multi-day commitment.

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

74 miles from Atlanta, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Only 8% of this journey is spent on major highways, so you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted section is an 84.9-mile stretch on the Carl Sanders Highway, which serves as the backbone of your travel. This mix of roads offers a different rhythm compared to a standard interstate cruise. Be prepared to shift your focus frequently as you transition between these specific thoroughfares throughout the drive.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Carl Sanders Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 84.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Hill Street Southeast.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Hill Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Hill Street Southeast

Turn right onto Hill Street Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Augusta

Navigation decision point

Toward I 20 East: Augusta
5
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway

Merge onto I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
5
142.1 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in

Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 199 Toward GA 28: Augusta
5
142.4 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Carl Sanders Highway 84.9 mi 1h 30m
Purple Heart Highway 46.9 mi 50m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway 9.3 mi 11m
Calhoun Expressway 2.7 mi 3m
Washington Road 2.4 mi 4m
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast 0.4 mi <1m
11th Street 0.4 mi <1m
Hill Street Southeast 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Carl Sanders Highway — 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Augusta, GA.

1

Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast

69 ft · 1 sec · Capitol Avenue Southeast
2

Turn slight right

156 ft · 6 sec
3

Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast

257 ft · 7 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
4

Continue on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the none lane.
5

Turn right onto Hill Street Southeast

0.3 mi · 58 sec · Hill Street Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
7

Merge onto I 20

9.3 mi · 11 min · Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the none lane.
8

Continue on I 20

47 mi · 50 min · Purple Heart Highway
Use the none lane.
9

Continue on I 20

85 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Carl Sanders Highway
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 199 Toward GA 28: Augusta
11

Keep slight right at fork

481 ft · 11 sec
12

Turn straight onto GA 28

2.4 mi · 4 min · Washington Road
13

Turn straight onto GA 28

2.7 mi · 3 min · Calhoun Expressway
14

Continue on GA 28

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Greene Street
15

Turn right onto 11th Street

0.4 mi · 44 sec · 11th Street
16

Turn right onto Walton Way

225 ft · 3 sec · Walton Way
17

Arrive at destination

Walton Way

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 2-hour and 44-minute drive, plan your departure to avoid peak local congestion. Since you only have one designated stop, use that break to refuel and stretch your legs, keeping your total $24 fuel budget in mind for the round trip. The flexibility of this short route is a major advantage, allowing you to easily adjust your schedule if you encounter unexpected traffic on the local stretches. Prioritize staying alert during the turns, as the road character demands more attention than a typical highway cruise. If you are heading out early, check traffic conditions on the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway before you leave Atlanta.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 74 miles or 1h 22m 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 12m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Atlanta, 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 Atlanta, GA

This is one driving day of about 148 miles and 2h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Atlanta, 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 Carl Sanders Highway for about 84.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74 mi from Atlanta, GA · 1h 22m into the drive

Downtown Abbeville, SC, SC

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Abbeville, SC

74 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

Abbeville, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Abbeville, SC

Meal break

The midpoint is around 74 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Carl Sanders Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.

Arriving in Augusta, GA

The final approach into Augusta, 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 Augusta, 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

$23.69 one way

$47.37 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $25.81 $51.61
premium $4.78 $27.84 $55.68
diesel $5.64 $32.88 $65.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$24

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 44.4 0 $15.54 $7.10
Efficient EV 37 0 $12.95 $5.92
EV Truck/SUV 59.2 0 $20.72 $9.47

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Atlanta, GA

Night in Atlanta on Sunday

Local time

10:31 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Augusta, GA

Night in Augusta on Sunday

Local time

10:31 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

62°F

Abbeville, SC

74 mi in

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

26 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

2h 44m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Atlanta, GA to Augusta, GA covers 148 miles and takes about 2h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74 miles from Atlanta, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.69 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 148 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Hill Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Atlanta, GA to Augusta, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Augusta, GA to Atlanta, GA

Plan the drive back the other way.

148 mi 2h 44m

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