Origin
Ellaville, GA
Morning in Ellaville on Saturday
Local time
10:24 AM
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
2h 54m
Distance
171.2 mi
276 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 16m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 15m
8 PM
2h 48m
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 171.2 miles and takes about 2h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broad Street, South Broad Street, North Poplar Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.77 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
85.6 miles from Ellaville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 171.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m 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 2h 54m drive with frequent turns across 171.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Broad Street 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 Ellaville, GA to California, GA is easy. At 2h 54m 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 Ellaville, GA to California, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broad Street | — | — |
| South Broad Street | — | — |
| North Poplar Street | — | — |
| North Church Street | — | — |
| Griffin Street | — | — |
| Zebulon Road | — | — |
| North Avenue | — | — |
| State Route 85 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Broad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellaville, GA and California, GA.
1
Start on West Oglethorpe Street
89 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Oglethorpe Street
2
Turn left onto North Broad Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
3
At the end of the road, turn left
21 mi
·
24 min
4
Continue on South Broad Street
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
South Broad Street
5
Merge slight left onto North Poplar Street
11 mi
·
13 min
·
North Poplar Street
6
Continue straight
2.1 mi
·
2 min
7
Continue straight
14 mi
·
18 min
8
Merge slight left onto North Church Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
North Church Street
9
Turn slight right
180 ft
·
20 sec
10
Turn left
167 ft
·
12 sec
11
Merge slight left onto North Church Street
15 mi
·
21 min
·
North Church Street
12
Continue on Griffin Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Griffin Street
13
Continue on Zebulon Road
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Zebulon Road
14
Turn left
12 mi
·
17 min
15
Continue straight
3.1 mi
·
4 min
16
Continue straight
9.3 mi
·
13 min
17
Turn left onto North Avenue
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Avenue
18
Continue on State Route 85
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 85
19
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
20
Turn right onto Church Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
21
Continue on Riverdale Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverdale Road
22
Take the ramp slight right toward I 285 West
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 285 West
23
Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
24
Take the exit slight left toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingham
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingham
25
Merge slight left onto Tom Murphy Freeway
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Murphy Freeway
26
Take the exit slight right toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
27
Keep slight right
174 ft
·
4 sec
28
Merge slight left onto Thornton Road
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
29
Continue on C H James Parkway
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
C H James Parkway
30
Continue on Wendy Bagwell Parkway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendy Bagwell Parkway
31
Continue on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
32
Turn right onto Hiram Acworth Highway
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
33
Arrive at your destination
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.6 miles from Ellaville, GA, or about 1h 27m 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 38 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 22m
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 171.2 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 85.6 mi from Ellaville, GA · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.6 miles from Ellaville, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in California, GA
The final approach into California, 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 California, 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
$26.77 one way
$53.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $29.27 | $58.55 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.69 | $63.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.80 | $75.60 |
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: 59.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.98 | $8.22 |
| Efficient EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.98 | $6.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.5 | 0 | $23.97 | $10.96 |
Gas CO2
60 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.
Destination
California, GA
Morning in California on Saturday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Fayetteville, GA
86 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 54m 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 Ellaville, GA to California, GA covers 171.2 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Broad Street, South Broad Street, North Poplar Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.6 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 $26.77 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.
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 Ellaville, GA to California, GA is easy. At 2h 54m 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 Ellaville, GA to California, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ellaville, GA to California, 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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