Origin
Atlanta, GA
Night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
10:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive 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
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlanta, GA
Kelly
Augusta, GA
Gustavo Denuncio
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 .
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.
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.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Augusta
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Augusta, GA.
Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 20
Continue on I 20
Continue on I 20
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto GA 28
Turn straight onto GA 28
Continue on GA 28
Turn right onto 11th Street
Turn right onto Walton Way
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 74 mi from Atlanta, GA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop up before Carl Sanders Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$23.69 one way
$47.37 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
10:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Augusta on Sunday
Local time
10:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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