The drive from Columbus, GA to Lakeland, GA covers 167.8 miles and takes about 3h 43m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on GA 37, GA 133, US 280 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.3 miles on GA 37.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.24 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
83.9 miles from Columbus, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 43m. Total distance: 167.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Columbus, GA to Lakeland, GA covers 167.8 miles and takes about 3h 43m, 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 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
GA 37 is the longest continuous segment at about 43.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 78.9 miles in near US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 167.8 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 78.9 miles (US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.5 miles (GA 133): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.7 miles (GA 133): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
78.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway toward US 82 East, GA 520 East: Tifton, Camilla
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 82 East, GA 520 East: Tifton, Camilla
6
89.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|GA 133
Take the exit onto GA 133 toward GA 133 South, GA 234: Albany, Moultrie, Marine Corps Logistics Base
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward GA 133 South, GA 234: Albany, Moultrie,...
7
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|GA 133
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 133 toward GA 133 South: Marine Corps Logistics Base, Moultrie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward GA 133 South: Marine Corps Logistics Bas...
4
102.8 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|GA 133
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 133
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
124.4 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|GA 37
Turn sharp left onto GA 37
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbus, GA and Lakeland, GA, road signs point toward Camilla, Moultrie and Marine Corps Logistics Base.
Camilla
78.9 mi in|~1h 41m|via US 82; GA 520
Moultrie
89.5 mi in|~1h 55m|via GA 133
Marine Corps Logistics Base
89.5 mi in|~1h 55m|via GA 133
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
GA 37
43.3 mi
1h 4m
GA 133
20 mi
23m
US 280
18.6 mi
21m
Victory Drive
16.3 mi
24m
Wall Street
16 mi
19m
Albany Highway
14.2 mi
17m
Moultrie Road
13 mi
17m
Liberty Expressway
10.6 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
GA 37
— 43.3 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, GA and Lakeland, GA.
1
Start on US 27; GA 1
0.5 mi·1 min·Veterans Parkway
2
Turn left onto US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
0.7 mi·1 min·4th Street
3
Continue on US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
16 mi·24 min·Victory Drive
4
Continue on US 280; GA 520
3.3 mi·3 min·US 280; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 280; GA 520
15 mi·17 min·US 280; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on GA 520
16 mi·19 min·Wall Street
7
Continue on GA 520
1.0 mi·1 min·North Parrott Street
8
Continue on GA 520
8.0 mi·9 min·Columbus Highway
9
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.5 mi·43 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Drive
10
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.2 mi·27 sec·Roundtree Drive
11
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.3 mi·33 sec·Vine Street Northwest
12
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.6 mi·1 min·Rountree Drive Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 82; GA 520
1.1 mi·1 min·Forrester Drive Southeast
14
Continue on US 82; GA 520
5.4 mi·6 min·Albany Highway
15
Turn straight onto US 82; GA 520
1.0 mi·1 min·Highway Street
16
Continue on US 82; GA 520
8.8 mi·10 min·Albany Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; GA 520
11 mi·13 min·Liberty Expressway
Toward US 82 East, GA 520 East: Tifton, CamillaUse the left lane.
18
Take the exit onto GA 133
0.2 mi·22 sec·GA 133
Exit 1Toward GA 133 South, GA 234: Albany, Moultrie, Marine Corps Logistics Base
19
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 133
494 ft·15 sec·GA 133
Toward GA 133 South: Marine Corps Logistics Base, Moultrie
20
Continue on GA 133
13 mi·17 min·Moultrie Road
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right
118 ft·3 sec
22
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 133
8.4 mi·9 min·GA 133
23
Continue on GA 133
11 mi·13 min·GA 133
24
Continue on US 319; GA 35; GA 133
1.8 mi·2 min·North Veterans Parkway
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn sharp left onto GA 37
0.9 mi·1 min·GA 37
Use the left lane.
26
Enter roundabout onto GA 37
111 ft·1 sec·GA 37
27
Continue on GA 37
42 mi·1 hr 3 min·GA 37
Use the right lane.
28
Turn straight onto US 129; GA 11; GA 37; GA 122
413 ft·10 sec·West Main Street
29
Arrive at destination
US 129; US 221; GA 11; GA 31; GA 37; GA 122; GA 135
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 83.9 miles from Columbus, GA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.3 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 37 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.9 miles or 1h 47m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakeland, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, GA
This is one driving day of about 167.8 miles and 3h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Columbus, 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 GA 37 for about 43.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.9 mi from Columbus, GA
· 1h 47m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influenc...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 52.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.24 one way
$52.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.69
$57.38
premium
$4.70
$31.06
$62.11
diesel
$5.61
$37.05
$74.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.3
0
$17.62
$8.05
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.68
$6.71
EV Truck/SUV
67.1
0
$23.49
$10.74
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Columbus, GA
Morning
in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lakeland, GA
Morning
in Lakeland on Saturday
Local time
7:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Albany, GA
84 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
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 43m 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 Columbus, GA to Lakeland, GA covers 167.8 miles and takes about 3h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are GA 37, GA 133, US 280. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.9 miles from Columbus, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.24 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 167.8 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 78.9 miles (US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.5 miles (GA 133): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 89.7 miles (GA 133): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Columbus, GA and Lakeland, GA, road signs point toward Camilla, Moultrie and Marine Corps Logistics Base.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
