Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 6m
Distance
318.9 mi
513 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albany, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Dade County, GA
Megan Bailey
This 318.9-mile journey from Albany, GA, to Dade County, GA, is a solid day trip, clocking in at about 6 hours and 6 minutes of driving time. You'll spend roughly half the time on major highways, including I-75 and Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, with a $50 estimated fuel cost. This mixed drive through Georgia's Southeast region offers a straightforward path for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With only one recommended stop, it's designed for a direct transit, making it a practical choice for a single-day travel plan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
159.4 miles from Albany, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 129.4 mi | 2h 23m |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 98.4 mi | 1h 47m |
| Cordele Road | 35.2 mi | 43m |
| I 24 | 16.7 mi | 21m |
| Larry Justice Highway | 15.9 mi | 17m |
| I 59 | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Horace E Tate Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Clark Avenue | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, GA and Dade County, GA.
Start on Pine Avenue
Enter roundabout onto North Front Street
Continue on North Front Street
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
Turn left onto Blaylock Street
Turn right onto Clark Avenue
Turn left onto GA 300
Turn left
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 475
Merge onto I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
Continue on I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Take the exit
Continue on I 24
Take the exit
Continue on I 59
Take the exit
Turn left onto GA 136
Turn right onto US 11; GA 58; GA 136
Turn left onto GA 136
Turn right onto Sells Lane
Arrive at destination
For this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Albany, GA, to maximize daylight and arrive in Dade County with ample time. The route is manageable in a single day, but if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could break it up. With a longest stretch of 129.4 miles on I-75, plan your fuel stops accordingly to avoid any concerns, especially given the $50 estimated fuel cost. One practical tip: keep an eye on your GPS for the transition points between I-75 and Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, as these are key moments where the driving character changes.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 70 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.4 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dade County, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Albany, 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 Albany, GA
This is one driving day of about 318.9 miles and 6h 6m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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.
A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 159.4 miles from Albany, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 75 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 129.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 97.1 and 290.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 North: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 toward I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$49.87 one way
$99.74 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $54.53 | $109.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $59.02 | $118.04 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $70.41 | $140.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.7 | 1 | $33.48 | $15.31 |
| Efficient EV | 79.7 | 0 | $27.90 | $12.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.6 | 1 | $44.65 | $20.41 |
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Albany on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Dade County on Saturday
Local time
9:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Historical Park
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 50% of your travel time spent on high-speed highways like I-75. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 129.4 miles, primarily on I-75, so be prepared for sustained periods of consistent speed. While much of the drive is on major arteries, the inclusion of roads like Cordele Road suggests there will be shifts in the driving experience. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and potentially more varied local road conditions as you progress towards Dade County.
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 around 97.1 miles in near I 475 / Larry Justice Highway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 318.9 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: at 97.1 miles (I 475 / Larry Justice Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 162.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.2 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Albany, GA and Dade County, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and Nashville.
Birmingham
Chattanooga
Kennesaw
Nashville
Albany is a city of 72,000 people (2019) in Dougherty County in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region. It is part of the Black Belt, the extensive area in the Deep South of cotton plantations. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the Albany Movement, a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in 1961. Ray Charles, the singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, was born here, and is remembered in a park with a statue.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 318.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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