Origin
California, GA
Morning in California on Saturday
Local time
10:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from California, GA to Ellaville, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
142.3 mi
229 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 20m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
California, GA
Lesli Whitecotton
Ellaville, GA
Marcella Soáres
Trip Overview
The drive from California, GA to Ellaville, GA covers 142.3 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Wendy Bagwell Parkway, C H James Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.25 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
71.1 miles from California, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 142.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 14m drive with frequent turns across 142.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from California, GA to Ellaville, GA is easy. At 3h 14m 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 Ellaville, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway | — | — |
| Wendy Bagwell Parkway | — | — |
| C H James Parkway | — | — |
| Thornton Road | — | — |
| I 20 East | — | — |
| Tom Murphy Freeway | — | — |
| I 285 | — | — |
| I 285 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California, GA and Ellaville, GA.
1
Start on Hiram Acworth Highway
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
2
Turn left onto Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
3
Continue on Wendy Bagwell Parkway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendy Bagwell Parkway
4
Continue on C H James Parkway
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
C H James Parkway
5
Continue on Thornton Road
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Atlanta
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20 East: Atlanta
7
Merge slight left onto Tom Murphy Freeway
5.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Murphy Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 285: Chattanooga, Greenville, Montgomery, Macon
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 285: Chattanooga, Greenville, Montgomery, Macon
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 285 South: Montgomery, Macon
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 285 South: Montgomery, Macon
10
Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
11
Take the exit slight right toward GA 139: Riverdale Road
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
GA 139: Riverdale Road
12
Keep slight right to continue on GA 139 South
164 ft
·
4 sec
·
GA 139 South
13
Turn straight onto Riverdale Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverdale Road
14
Continue on Church Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Street
15
Turn left onto Howard Street
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Howard Street
16
Turn right onto State Route 85
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 85
17
Turn left
1.2 mi
·
1 min
18
Continue straight
2.0 mi
·
2 min
19
Turn right onto Tara Boulevard
24 mi
·
34 min
·
Tara Boulevard
20
Take the exit straight toward Zebulon, Thomaston
371 ft
·
10 sec
·
Zebulon, Thomaston
21
Merge slight left onto Zebulon Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Zebulon Road
22
Continue on Fayetteville Street
20 mi
·
30 min
·
Fayetteville Street
23
Merge slight left onto South Center Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
South Center Street
24
Continue on South Church Street
12 mi
·
14 min
·
South Church Street
25
Continue straight
2.1 mi
·
2 min
26
Continue straight
34 mi
·
41 min
27
Turn right onto North Broad Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
28
Turn right onto West Oglethorpe Street
89 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Oglethorpe Street
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.1 miles from California, GA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
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 31 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.1 miles or 1h 37m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ellaville, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 142.3 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from California, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.1 mi from California, GA · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.1 miles from California, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ellaville, GA
The final approach into Ellaville, 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 Ellaville, 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
$22.25 one way
$44.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $24.33 | $48.66 |
| premium | $4.70 | $26.34 | $52.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.42 | $62.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.94 | $6.83 |
| Efficient EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.45 | $5.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.92 | $9.11 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Ellaville, GA
Morning in Ellaville on Saturday
Local time
10:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
3h 14m 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 California, GA to Ellaville, GA covers 142.3 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Wendy Bagwell Parkway, C H James Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.1 miles from California, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.25 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from California, GA to Ellaville, GA is easy. At 3h 14m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from California, GA to Ellaville, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from California, GA to Ellaville, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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