The drive from Augusta, GA to Locust Grove, GA covers 144.5 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, GA 36 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 85.2 miles on Carl Sanders Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
72.3 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 144.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 53m drive with frequent turns across 144.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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 5.8 miles in near I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.1 miles (GA 36): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
6
111.2 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward GA 142: Covington, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 93
Toward GA 142: Covington, Oxford
5
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|GA 36
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
129.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|GA 36
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|North Jackson Street
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Augusta, GA to Locust Grove, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
Oxford
111.2 mi in|~2h 2m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
85.2 mi
1h 31m
Purple Heart Highway
20.3 mi
21m
GA 36
10.1 mi
13m
State Route 36
8.2 mi
11m
US 23
6.9 mi
10m
Washington Road
2.5 mi
4m
Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
Old Bethel Road
2.3 mi
5m
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 Locust Grove, 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
20 mi·21 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 93Toward GA 142: Covington, Oxford
11
Turn left onto GA 142
1.1 mi·2 min·John R. Williams Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on GA 36
2.5 mi·4 min·Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto GA 36
1.8 mi·2 min·Highway 36
14
Continue on GA 36
8.2 mi·11 min·State Route 36
15
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
106 ft·2 sec·GA 36
16
Continue on GA 36
4.7 mi·6 min·GA 36
17
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
76 ft·1 sec·GA 36
18
Continue on GA 36
5.4 mi·7 min·GA 36
19
Turn right onto Old Bethel Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Old Bethel Road
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 23; GA 42
6.6 mi·9 min·US 23; GA 42
21
Continue on US 23; GA 42
0.3 mi·31 sec·US 23; GA 42
22
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
93 ft·4 sec·North Jackson Street
23
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Trip Plan
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 72.3 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 1h 20m 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 32 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.3 miles or 1h 20m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Locust Grove, 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 144.5 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 72.3 mi from Augusta, GA
· 1h 20m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.4
0
$15.17
$6.94
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.64
$5.78
EV Truck/SUV
57.8
0
$20.23
$9.25
Gas CO2
51 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Augusta, GA
Afternoon
in Augusta on Friday
Local time
12:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Locust Grove, GA
Afternoon
in Locust Grove on Friday
Local time
12:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Madison, GA
72 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
34 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 53m 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 Locust Grove, GA covers 144.5 miles and takes about 2h 53m 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, GA 36. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.3 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 $22.60 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 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.1 miles (GA 36): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Augusta, GA to Locust Grove, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
