This 138.4-mile drive from Fitzgerald to Columbus, Georgia, will take you approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily travel on Jefferson Davis Highway, GA 32, and Ten Mile Road. With a fuel cost estimated at $22 and only one recommended stop, this is a straightforward journey through the Southeast region. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a local driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Consider this a convenient option if you're looking for a manageable drive with minimal fuss.
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
69.2 miles from Fitzgerald, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 138.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 138.4-mile journey. Only 22% of the route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 30 miles on Jefferson Davis Highway. This profile indicates a drive where you'll be actively steering and navigating, with frequent changes in direction rather than long, monotonous stretches. The character of the road will likely shift as you progress, moving from more open highway sections to more intricate local road networks.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jefferson Davis Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 30 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Central Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 138.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (East Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.8 miles (GA 32 / Leesburg Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.2 miles (GA 32 Truck / Lovers Lane Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Central Avenue
Depart onto East Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
24.8 mi into trip|~36m in|GA 32 / Leesburg Highway
Turn right onto GA 32 / Leesburg Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
55.2 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|GA 32 Truck / Lovers Lane Road
Turn left onto GA 32 Truck / Lovers Lane Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|GA 32
Turn left onto GA 32
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
137.5 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|6th Avenue
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Jefferson Davis Highway
30 mi
41m
GA 32
17.9 mi
25m
Ten Mile Road
17.7 mi
24m
Martha Berry Highway
16.3 mi
23m
Richland Bypass
15.4 mi
17m
South Parrott Street
8.7 mi
10m
GA 520
8.3 mi
9m
Columbus Highway
8 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Jefferson Davis Highway
— 30 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fitzgerald, GA and Columbus, GA.
1
Start on East Central Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·East Central Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on Irwinville Highway
0.6 mi·1 min·Irwinville Highway
3
Turn right onto Walker Avenue
0.3 mi·42 sec·Walker Avenue
4
Turn left onto Ten Mile Road
18 mi·24 min·Ten Mile Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto GA 107; GA 112
1.1 mi·1 min·Sylvester Road
6
Continue on GA 107; GA 112
3.2 mi·5 min·East Washington Avenue
7
Continue on GA 32; GA 112
0.7 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
8
Turn right onto GA 32
0.4 mi·37 sec·Leesburg Highway
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on GA 32
30 mi·41 min·Jefferson Davis Highway
10
Turn left onto GA 32 Truck
0.9 mi·1 min·Lovers Lane Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto GA 32 Truck
1.7 mi·2 min·Robert B. Lee Drive
12
Continue on US 19 Bypass; GA 3 Bypass; GA 32
0.3 mi·34 sec·US 19 Bypass; GA 3 Bypass; GA 32
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto GA 32
18 mi·25 min·GA 32
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto GA 45; GA 520
0.3 mi·31 sec·Vine Street Northwest
15
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.2 mi·27 sec·Roundtree Drive
16
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.5 mi·43 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Drive
17
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
8.0 mi·9 min·Columbus Highway
18
Continue on GA 520
8.7 mi·10 min·South Parrott Street
19
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 520
8.3 mi·9 min·GA 520
20
Continue on GA 520
15 mi·17 min·Richland Bypass
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 280; GA 520
3.3 mi·3 min·US 280; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
16 mi·23 min·Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
0.5 mi·1 min·4th Street
24
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·9th Street
26
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
0.1 mi·25 sec·Veterans Parkway
27
Arrive at destination
US 27; GA 1
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour duration and 138.4-mile distance, this trip is best tackled in a single day. Aim for an early departure to maximize your daylight hours and allow for a relaxed pace. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, plan your refueling stops accordingly, though the single recommended stop suggests a fairly direct path. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to signage on Jefferson Davis Highway, as the longest continuous stretch is also where you'll encounter the most turns. This will help you maintain momentum and avoid unnecessary backtracking.
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 69.2 miles from Fitzgerald, GA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30 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 30 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.2 miles or 1h 38m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fitzgerald, 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 Fitzgerald, GA
This is one driving day of about 138.4 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Fitzgerald, 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 Jefferson Davis Highway for about 30 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.2 mi from Fitzgerald, GA
· 1h 38m 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 85.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.64 one way
$43.29 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.66
$47.33
premium
$4.70
$25.61
$51.23
diesel
$5.61
$30.56
$61.11
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: 48.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.5
0
$14.53
$6.64
Efficient EV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.54
EV Truck/SUV
55.4
0
$19.38
$8.86
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fitzgerald, GA
Morning
in Fitzgerald on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, GA
Morning
in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
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
25 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 8m 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 Fitzgerald, GA to Columbus, GA covers 138.4 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jefferson Davis Highway, GA 32, Ten Mile Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.2 miles from Fitzgerald, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.64 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 138.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (East Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.8 miles (GA 32 / Leesburg Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 55.2 miles (GA 32 Truck / Lovers Lane Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Fitzgerald, GA to Columbus, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
