The drive from Locust Grove, GA to Augusta, GA covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, Highway 81 East for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.9 miles on Carl Sanders Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.57 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
72.2 miles from Locust Grove, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 144.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 144.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Carl Sanders Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 84.9 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 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near King Mill Road.
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 144.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 7.7 miles (King Mill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles (I 20 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
7.7 mi into trip|~12m in|King Mill Road
Keep slight left at fork onto King Mill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
32.8 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
5
33.2 mi into trip|~50m in|I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
138.4 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
5
138.7 mi into trip|~2h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
84.9 mi
1h 30m
Purple Heart Highway
20.3 mi
21m
Highway 81 East
9.7 mi
13m
Highway 81 South
7.3 mi
10m
US 23
4.4 mi
6m
King Mill Road
3.9 mi
6m
Covington Bypass Road
3.6 mi
5m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Locust Grove, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on North Jackson Street
93 ft·5 sec·North Jackson Street
2
Turn right onto US 23; GA 42
4.4 mi·6 min·US 23; GA 42
3
Turn straight
207 ft·7 sec
4
Turn straight onto King Mill Road
3.2 mi·5 min·King Mill Road
5
Keep slight left at fork onto King Mill Road
0.7 mi·1 min·King Mill Road
6
Turn slight left onto Old Jackson Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Old Jackson Road
7
Turn right onto GA 81
8.1 mi·11 min·Highway 81 East
8
Turn slight right onto GA 81
285 ft·9 sec·Keys Road
9
Turn slight right onto GA 81
1.6 mi·2 min·Highway 81 East
10
Continue on GA 81
6.0 mi·8 min·Highway 81 South
11
Enter roundabout onto Highway 81 South
150 ft·5 sec·Highway 81 South
12
Continue on Highway 81 South
1.2 mi·1 min·Highway 81 South
13
Continue on GA 81
366 ft·9 sec·South Broad Street
14
Turn right onto Covington Bypass Road
3.6 mi·5 min·Covington Bypass Road
15
Continue on GA 36
2.5 mi·4 min·Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on GA 142
1.0 mi·1 min·John R. Williams Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 20 East: AugustaUse the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 20
20 mi·21 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 20
85 mi·1 hr 30 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
21
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
22
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
23
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
24
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
25
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
26
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
27
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
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 72.2 miles from Locust Grove, GA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 32 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.2 miles or 1h 32m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Augusta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Locust Grove, 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 Locust Grove, GA
This is one driving day of about 144.3 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Locust Grove, 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 Carl Sanders Highway for about 84.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.2 mi from Locust Grove, GA
· 1h 32m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.57 one way
$45.13 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.67
$49.35
premium
$4.70
$26.71
$53.41
diesel
$5.61
$31.86
$63.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 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
43.3
0
$15.15
$6.93
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.63
$5.77
EV Truck/SUV
57.7
0
$20.20
$9.24
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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Locust Grove, GA
Morning
in Locust Grove on Friday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Morning
in Augusta on Friday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 1:44AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 1:32AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
74°F
Covington, GA
72 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
44 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 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Locust Grove, GA to Augusta, GA covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, Highway 81 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.2 miles from Locust Grove, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.57 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 144.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 7.7 miles (King Mill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 32.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 33.2 miles (I 20 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Locust Grove, GA to Augusta, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
