Origin
Scottdale, GA
Late night in Scottdale on Saturday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scottdale, 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
55m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 4m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Scottdale, GA
Gera Cejas
California, GA
Lesli Whitecotton
Trip Overview
The drive from Scottdale, GA to California, GA covers 37.5 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, C H James Parkway, Thornton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.8 miles on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.86 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 55m highway drive covering 37.5 miles, with most of the trip on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway and C H James Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.8 miles on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 15.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway and C H James Parkway. 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 Clarendon Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Clarendon Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.1 miles (GA 154 / Memorial Drive Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (Maynard Terrace Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Clarendon Avenue
Turn sharp right onto North Clarendon Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
GA 154 / Memorial Drive Southeast
Turn right onto GA 154 / Memorial Drive Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
Maynard Terrace Southeast
Turn left onto Maynard Terrace Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
22.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Scottdale, GA to California, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Austell along the way.
Austell
22.7 mi in
|
~32m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ralph David Abernathy Freeway | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| C H James Parkway | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Thornton Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Memorial Drive Southeast | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Hiram Acworth Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| East Ponce de Leon Avenue | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Candler Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Wendy Bagwell Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
— 15.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scottdale, GA and California, GA.
1
Start on Church Street
85 ft
·
8 sec
·
Church Street
2
Turn sharp right onto North Clarendon Avenue
176 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Clarendon Avenue
3
Turn left onto East Ponce de Leon Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Ponce de Leon Avenue
4
Turn left onto Sams Crossing
505 ft
·
10 sec
·
Sams Crossing
5
Turn right onto US 278; GA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East College Avenue
6
Turn left onto GA 155
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Candler Street
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on GA 155
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Candler Road Northeast
8
Continue on GA 155
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Candler Road Southeast
9
Turn right onto GA 154
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Drive Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Maynard Terrace Southeast
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Maynard Terrace Southeast
Use the left lane.
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 20 West: Birmingham
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto GA 6
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
C H James Parkway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on US 278; GA 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto GA 92
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
20
Arrive at destination
GA 92
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.8 mi from Scottdale, GA · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Scottdale, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in California, GA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into California, GA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.86 one way
$11.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.94 | $13.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.28 | $16.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Late night in California on Saturday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
55m 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 Scottdale, GA to California, GA covers 37.5 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, C H James Parkway, Thornton Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.8 miles from Scottdale, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.86 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.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Clarendon Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.1 miles (GA 154 / Memorial Drive Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles (Maynard Terrace Southeast): Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Scottdale, GA to California, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Austell along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
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.
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