The drive from Augusta, GA to Arcade, GA covers 115.7 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 78, Carl Sanders Highway, Washington Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42 miles on US 78.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.09 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.
Midpoint
57.8 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 115.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Augusta, GA to Arcade, GA covers 115.7 miles and takes about 2h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 78 is the longest continuous segment at about 42 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 115.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15 / Outer Loop 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 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.
5
32.7 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 78, GA 17: Thomson, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 78, GA 17: Thomson, Washington
7
99.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15 / Outer Loop 10
Take the exit onto US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15 / Outer Loop 10 toward US 129, US 441, GA 10 Loop: Commerce, Jefferson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 129, US 441, GA 10 Loop: Commerce, Je...
8
102.7 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 129
Take the exit onto US 129 toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
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 14
Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
6
102.9 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 129; GA 15 Alternate / Jefferson Road
Merge onto US 129; GA 15 Alternate / Jefferson Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Augusta, GA and Arcade, GA, road signs point toward Washington and Jefferson.
Washington
32.7 mi in|~38m
Jefferson
99.1 mi in|~1h 59m|via US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 78
42 mi
50m
Carl Sanders Highway
26.9 mi
28m
Washington Road
13.3 mi
17m
Thomson Road
11 mi
13m
Jefferson Road
7.7 mi
11m
Outer Loop 10
5.8 mi
7m
US 129
5 mi
6m
Calhoun Expressway
1.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 78
— 42 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Augusta, GA and Arcade, 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
27 mi·28 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 78, GA 17: Thomson, Washington
10
Turn right onto GA 17
11 mi·12 min·Washington Road
11
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 17
11 mi·13 min·Thomson Road
12
Turn left onto US 78; GA 10
42 mi·50 min·US 78; GA 10
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·20 sec
14
Merge onto US 29; US 129; US 441; GA 8; GA 10 Loop; GA 15
2.1 mi·2 min·Outer Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15
3.6 mi·4 min·Outer Loop 10
Toward US 129, US 441, GA 10 Loop: Commerce, JeffersonUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 129
0.2 mi·26 sec·US 129
Exit 14Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, JeffersonUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto US 129; GA 15 Alternate
7.7 mi·11 min·Jefferson Road
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 129; GA 15 Alternate
4.8 mi·6 min·US 129; GA 15 Alternate
19
Turn right onto US 129 Business; GA 15 Alternate
0.4 mi·41 sec·Athens Highway
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto Wyatt Street
75 ft·4 sec·Wyatt Street
21
Turn right onto Peppers Street
90 ft·3 sec·Peppers Street
22
Arrive at destination
Peppers 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.8 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42 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 25 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.8 miles or 1h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arcade, 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 115.7 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Augusta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 78 for about 42 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.8 mi from Augusta, GA
· 1h 9m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.09 one way
$36.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.78
$39.57
premium
$4.70
$21.41
$42.83
diesel
$5.61
$25.55
$51.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.55
Efficient EV
28.9
0
$10.12
$4.63
EV Truck/SUV
46.3
0
$16.20
$7.40
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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
Morning
in Augusta on Friday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Arcade, GA
Morning
in Arcade on Friday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Washington, GA
58 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 23m 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 Arcade, GA covers 115.7 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 78, Carl Sanders Highway, Washington Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.8 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 $18.09 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 115.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (US 129; US 441; 10 Loop; 15 / Outer Loop 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Augusta, GA and Arcade, GA, road signs point toward Washington and Jefferson.
