Origin
Ellaville, GA
Afternoon in Ellaville on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ellaville, GA to California, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 15m
Distance
142.6 mi
229 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellaville, GA
Marcella Soáres
California, GA
Lesli Whitecotton
Trip Overview
The drive from Ellaville, GA to California, GA covers 142.6 miles and takes about 3h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 19, North Church Street, Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.9 miles on US 19. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.30 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
71.3 miles from Ellaville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 19 | 61.9 mi | 1h 20m |
| North Church Street | 15.2 mi | 22m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| North Poplar Street | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| C H James Parkway | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Tom Murphy Freeway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Zebulon Road | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Thornton Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 61.9 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellaville, GA and California, GA.
1
Start on GA 26
87 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Oglethorpe Street
2
Turn left onto North Broad Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
Use the left lane.
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 19; GA 3
21 mi
·
24 min
·
US 19; GA 3
4
Continue on US 19; GA 3
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Merge onto US 19; GA 3
11 mi
·
13 min
·
North Poplar Street
6
Continue on US 19; US 80; GA 3; GA 22
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 19; US 80; GA 3; GA 22
7
Continue on US 19; GA 3
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 19; GA 3
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Merge onto US 19; GA 3
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
North Church Street
9
Turn slight right
179 ft
·
20 sec
10
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
11
Merge onto US 19; GA 3
15 mi
·
21 min
·
North Church Street
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 19; GA 3
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Griffin Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Continue on US 19; GA 3
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Zebulon Road
14
Turn left onto US 19; US 41; GA 3
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 19; US 41; GA 3
Use the left lane.
15
Continue on US 19; US 41; GA 3
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
US 19; US 41; GA 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 19; US 41; GA 3
9.3 mi
·
13 min
·
US 19; US 41; GA 3
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto GA 138 Spur
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Continue on GA 85
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 85
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto GA 139
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto GA 139
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on GA 139
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverdale Road
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 285 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 285
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 10B
Toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingham
Use the slight left lane.
25
Merge onto I 20
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
28
Merge onto GA 6
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
Use the right lane.
29
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
C H James Parkway
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
31
Continue on US 278; GA 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
32
Turn right onto GA 92
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
33
Arrive at destination
GA 92
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 71.3 miles from Ellaville, GA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.9 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.3 miles or 1h 34m 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 California, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellaville, 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 Ellaville, GA
This is one driving day of about 142.6 miles and 3h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Ellaville, 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 US 19 for about 61.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
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 71.3 miles from Ellaville, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 19 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 195 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 128 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Broad Street
Turn left onto North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
8
121.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingha...
8
127.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
7
128 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.30 one way
$44.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $24.38 | $48.76 |
| premium | $4.70 | $26.39 | $52.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.48 | $62.97 |
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: 49.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers · Coverage: fair
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hiram, Georgia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Hiram, Georgia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.97 | $6.84 |
| Efficient EV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.48 | $5.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57 | 0 | $19.96 | $9.13 |
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
California, GA
Afternoon in California on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 15m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 118
View on nps.gov
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
$5
near mile 122.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Ellaville, GA to California, GA covers 142.6 miles and takes about 3h 15m, 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 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 19 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near North Broad Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 142.6 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: near the start (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 121.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ellaville, GA and California, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Austell.
Birmingham
121.2 mi in
|
~2h 43m
Austell
127.7 mi in
|
~2h 52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 15m. Total distance: 142.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ellaville, GA to California, GA covers 142.6 miles and takes about 3h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 19, North Church Street, Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.3 miles from Ellaville, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.30 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 142.6 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: near the start (North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 121.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ellaville, GA and California, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Austell.
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.
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