Traveling from Albany to Darien covers 176.3 miles across the southeastern corner of Georgia. You should plan for a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 56 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day trip. With fuel costs estimated at $28, the journey is quite budget-friendly for a solo driver or a small group. You will primarily utilize US 82 and the Brunswick Highway to reach your destination. Because the route stays within the same region, you won't face drastic climate or time zone changes, allowing for a straightforward transition from the inland plains to the coast. It is an ideal route if you are looking for a practical, direct path between these two Georgia cities.
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
88.2 miles from Albany, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
112.1 mi
2h 24m
Brunswick Highway
23.5 mi
31m
GA 99
16.1 mi
22m
Sylvester Highway
8.5 mi
11m
US 17
4.9 mi
7m
Carswell Avenue
3.7 mi
6m
East Oglethorpe Boulevard
2.9 mi
4m
5th Street East
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 112.1 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, GA and Darien, GA.
1
Start on Pine Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Pine Avenue
Use the straight lane.
2
Enter roundabout onto North Front Street
75 ft·5 sec·North Front Street
3
Continue on North Front Street
510 ft·14 sec·North Front Street
4
Turn left onto West Broad Avenue
0.4 mi·52 sec·West Broad Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
365 ft·9 sec·South Broadway Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 19 Business; US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
2.9 mi·4 min·East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
8.5 mi·11 min·Sylvester Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 82; GA 520
11 mi·15 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 82; GA 520
18 mi·25 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the slight right lane.
10
Continue on US 82; US 319; GA 35; GA 520
1.5 mi·2 min·5th Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 82; GA 520
15 mi·18 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 82; US 129; GA 11; GA 520
1.1 mi·1 min·US 82; US 129; GA 11; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 82; GA 520
26 mi·32 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 82; GA 520
25 mi·29 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Carswell Avenue
3.7 mi·6 min·Carswell Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on US 1 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Turn straight
459 ft·20 sec
18
Merge onto US 82; GA 520
0.1 mi·12 sec·Reynolds Street
19
Continue on US 82; GA 520
23 mi·31 min·Brunswick Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.8 mi·5 min·US 82; GA 520
21
Continue on US 82; GA 520
8.4 mi·11 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 82; GA 520
3.0 mi·3 min·US 82; GA 520
23
Turn left onto GA 99
13 mi·18 min·GA 99
Use the left lane.
24
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
120 ft·1 sec·GA 99
25
Continue on GA 99
2.4 mi·3 min·GA 99
26
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
152 ft·4 sec·GA 99
27
Continue on GA 99
0.3 mi·26 sec·GA 99
28
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
107 ft·1 sec·GA 99
29
Continue on GA 99
0.3 mi·22 sec·GA 99
30
Enter roundabout
106 ft·3 sec
31
Continue
0.1 mi·13 sec
32
Turn straight onto GA 99
449 ft·7 sec·GA 99
33
Continue on SR 99
0.5 mi·51 sec·Grants Ferry Road
34
At end of road, turn left onto US 17; GA 25; 99
4.9 mi·7 min·US 17; GA 25; 99
35
Turn right
63 ft·2 sec
36
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward four-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. I recommend planning for at least one stop to break up the monotony of the long US 82 stretch, as this will help keep you alert behind the wheel. Given the $28 fuel estimate, topping off your tank in Albany before you head out is a smart way to ensure you don't have to worry about finding a station in the more rural segments of the route. If you find yourself hitting the road during peak afternoon hours, keep in mind that traffic patterns may shift as you near the coast. Use your one scheduled stop strategically to stretch your legs before the final push into Darien.
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 88.2 miles from Albany, GA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.1 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 39 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Darien, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 176.3 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Albany, 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 US 82 for about 112.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 167.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|North Front Street
Enter roundabout onto North Front Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.9 mi into trip|~1m in|South Broadway Street
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
110 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|Carswell Avenue
Turn left onto Carswell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
154.6 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|GA 99
Turn left onto GA 99
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
167.7 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|GA 99
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.57 one way
$55.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.14
$60.29
premium
$4.70
$32.63
$65.26
diesel
$5.61
$38.92
$77.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.43
$7.05
EV Truck/SUV
70.5
0
$24.68
$11.28
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Albany, GA
Late night
in Albany on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Darien, GA
Late night
in Darien on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
3 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
3h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 76% of your trip takes place on major thoroughfares. The road’s personality is defined by a significant 112.1-mile stretch on US 82, which serves as the primary backbone of your journey. As you progress toward the coast, the transition from inland highways to the final approach on GA 99 provides a noticeable shift in the driving rhythm. While the long segments on the Brunswick Highway allow for consistent cruising, you should remain attentive to changing speed limits. Overall, the drive feels efficient and purposeful, moving you steadily through the landscape without the complexity of winding mountain passes.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.1 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and Brunswick Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North Front Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North Front Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (South Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles (Carswell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 112.1 miles on US 82. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North Front Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.9 miles (South Broadway Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 110 miles (Carswell Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Darien, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
