Trip from Augusta, GA to Atlanta, 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 33 min
4 AM
2h 33m ★
6 AM
2h 44m
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 Augusta, GA, GA

Augusta, GA

Gustavo Denuncio

Downtown Atlanta, GA, GA

Atlanta, GA

Kelly

Trip Overview

Connecting Augusta and Atlanta, this 148-mile journey is an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You should anticipate roughly 2 hours and 44 minutes of travel time, making it a very manageable trek across Georgia’s Southeast region. Budgeting approximately $24 for fuel will cover your transit across the Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, and the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. Since you only need to account for a single stop, the trip is straightforward and doesn't require an overnight stay. It serves as a practical link between the two cities, perfect for those looking to reach their 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 Augusta, 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 demands your attention behind the wheel. Only about 7% of this route consists of high-speed highway travel, so you will spend most of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 85.2 miles along the Carl Sanders Highway, which provides the most consistent rhythm of the trip. Because the route is not a standard interstate grind, the driving experience feels more tactile and varied. Be prepared for a shift in pace as you transition between the different highway segments that make up the remainder of the drive.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 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 85.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near 15th Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 44m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (GA 28 / Calhoun Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 5.8 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in | 15th Street

Turn right onto 15th Street

Navigation decision point

3
1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in | GA 28 / Calhoun Expressway

Merge onto GA 28 / Calhoun Expressway

Merge point - match speed before joining

5
5.8 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway

Merge onto I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
147.2 mi into trip | ~2h 42m in

Take the exit toward Capital Avenue, Downtown

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 58A Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
5
147.8 mi into trip | ~2h 43m in | Capitol Avenue Southeast

Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Carl Sanders Highway 85.2 mi 1h 31m
Purple Heart Highway 46.9 mi 50m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway 9.3 mi 11m
Washington Road 2.5 mi 4m
Calhoun Expressway 1.7 mi 1m
Walton Way 0.7 mi 1m
Capitol Avenue Southeast 0.3 mi <1m
15th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Carl Sanders Highway — 85.2 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Walton Way

0.7 mi · 1 min · Walton Way
2

Turn straight

235 ft · 8 sec
3

Turn right onto 15th Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · 15th Street
4

Turn slight left

0.3 mi · 40 sec
5

Merge onto GA 28

1.7 mi · 1 min · Calhoun Expressway
6

Continue on GA 28

2.5 mi · 4 min · Washington Road
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
8

Merge onto I 20

85 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 20

47 mi · 50 min · Purple Heart Highway
Use the none lane.
10

Continue on I 20

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

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 58A Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
13

Arrive at destination

Capitol Avenue Southeast

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest traffic. Plan for one strategic stop to break up the 148-mile drive, which will help keep you refreshed for the more technical, turn-heavy sections. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as the $24 estimated cost can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the majority of your time is spent on local roads rather than high-speed highways, prioritize steady pacing over speed. Use the 85.2-mile stretch on the Carl Sanders Highway as your primary window for making up time, as the rest of the route will require more frequent adjustments.

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 Augusta, GA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.2 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 13m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Augusta, 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 Augusta, GA

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

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Augusta, 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 85.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 74 mi from Augusta, 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 Augusta, 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 85.2 miles.

Arriving in Atlanta, GA

The final approach into Atlanta, 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 Atlanta, 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 3 days ago

Origin

Augusta, GA

Evening in Augusta on Sunday

Local time

8:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Atlanta, GA

Evening in Atlanta on Sunday

Local time

8:09 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°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 warmer 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 Augusta, GA to Atlanta, 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 Augusta, 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 is a straightforward 2h 44m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (GA 28 / Calhoun Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 5.8 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Augusta, GA to Atlanta, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Atlanta, GA to Augusta, GA

Plan the drive back the other way.

148 mi 2h 44m

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