Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
174.8 mi
281 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
The drive from California, GA to Dawson, GA covers 174.8 miles and takes about 3h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Hiram Douglasville Highway, Hiram Douglasville Road, Dallas Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.26 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
87.4 miles from California, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 38m drive with frequent turns across 174.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy — mostly straight driving
The drive from California, GA to Dawson, GA is easy. At 3h 38m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from California, GA to Dawson, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hiram Douglasville Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hiram Douglasville Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dallas Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Fairburn Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Palmetto Cascade Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Roosevelt Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between California, GA and Dawson, GA.
Start on Hiram Acworth Highway
Continue on Hiram Douglasville Highway
Continue on Hiram Douglasville Road
Continue on Hiram Douglasville Highway
Continue on Dallas Highway
Continue on Fairburn Road
Turn right
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
Exit the roundabout
Turn right onto Palmetto Cascade Highway
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Palmetto Cascade Highway
Exit the roundabout onto Palmetto Cascade Highway
Turn right onto Roosevelt Highway
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto Sharpsburg McCollum Road
Take the ramp right toward I 85 South: Montgomery
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on Chet Atkins Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward US 27 South, GA 1 South, US 280 East, GA 520 East: Cusseta, Albany
Merge slight left onto Victory Drive
Continue straight
Continue straight
Continue on Wall Street
Continue on North Parrott Street
Continue on Columbus Highway
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Drive
Continue on Roundtree Drive
Continue on Vine Street Northwest
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.4 miles or 1h 49m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dawson, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving California, 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 California, GA
This is one driving day of about 174.8 miles and 3h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.4 mi from California, GA · 1h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 87.4 miles from California, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Dawson, 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 Dawson, GA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$27.26 one way
$54.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $30.48 | $60.96 |
| premium | $4.78 | $32.88 | $65.76 |
| diesel | $5.62 | $38.70 | $77.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.4 | 0 | $18.35 | $8.39 |
| Efficient EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.30 | $6.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.9 | 0 | $24.47 | $11.19 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in California on Saturday
Local time
2:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Dawson on Saturday
Local time
2:03 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
85°F
Dadeville, AL
87 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.
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