Georgia Visitor Information Center - Columbus
0.2 mi from route
Trip from Albany, GA to Villa Rica, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
186.1 mi
299 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albany, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Villa Rica, GA
Giorgi Gobadze
Trip Overview
The drive from Albany, GA to Villa Rica, GA covers 186.1 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Martha Berry Highway, Chet Atkins Parkway, Richland Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.6 miles on Martha Berry Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.52 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
93 miles from Albany, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martha Berry Highway | 42.6 mi | 52m |
| Chet Atkins Parkway | 41.4 mi | 44m |
| Richland Bypass | 15.4 mi | 17m |
| US 82 | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| South Parrott Street | 8.7 mi | 10m |
| GA 520 | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Columbus Highway | 8 mi | 9m |
| Carrollton Villa Rica Highway | 8 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Martha Berry Highway
— 42.6 mi, about 52m
Traffic on I-185
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,801 veh/hr typical · worst 2,201
Quietest
2 AM
~86 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, GA and Villa Rica, GA.
1
Start on Pine Avenue
75 ft
·
5 sec
·
Pine Avenue
2
Turn right onto GA 91
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Jefferson Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 19, GA 3
Use the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 19; US 82; GA 3; GA 520
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Liberty Expressway
5
Continue on US 82; GA 520
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn straight onto US 82; GA 520
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Albany Highway
7
Continue on US 82; GA 520
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Forrester Drive Southeast
8
Continue on US 82; GA 520
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Rountree Drive Southwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Vine Street Northwest
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Roundtree Drive
11
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
12
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Columbus Highway
13
Continue on GA 520
8.7 mi
·
10 min
·
South Parrott Street
14
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 520
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
GA 520
15
Continue on GA 520
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Richland Bypass
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 280; GA 520
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 280; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
20
Continue on I 185
41 mi
·
44 min
·
Chet Atkins Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 42
Toward US 27: LaGrange
22
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Hamilton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Take the exit
359 ft
·
9 sec
Toward US 27, GA 1, GA 219
24
Merge onto US 27; GA 1; GA 219
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Whitesville Street
25
Continue on US 27; GA 1; GA 219
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Morgan Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on US 27; US 29; GA 1; GA 14
7.6 mi
·
11 min
·
New Franklin Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Continue on US 27; GA 1
32 mi
·
37 min
·
Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Continue on US 27; GA 1
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Park Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Take the exit onto US 27 Alternate; GA 16
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 27 Alternate; GA 16
Use the right lane.
30
Turn right onto Bankhead Highway
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Bankhead Highway
31
Continue on GA 61
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Carrollton Villa Rica Highway
32
Turn right onto South Carroll Road
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
South Carroll Road
33
Turn left onto Temple Street
335 ft
·
14 sec
·
Temple Street
34
Arrive at destination
Temple Street
Trip Plan
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 93 miles from Albany, GA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.6 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 41 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93 miles or 1h 57m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Villa Rica, 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 186.1 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 Martha Berry Highway for about 42.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93 miles from Albany, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
1.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
1.5 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
2.3 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 169.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
GA 91 / North Jefferson Street
Turn right onto GA 91 / North Jefferson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward US 19, GA 3
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 19, GA 3
5
79.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
6
79.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
6
169.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
US 27 Alternate; GA 16
Take the exit onto US 27 Alternate; GA 16
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.52 one way
$57.03 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $31.29 | $62.59 |
| premium | $4.64 | $33.97 | $67.95 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $41.02 | $82.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.54 | $8.93 |
| Efficient EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.28 | $7.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.05 | $11.91 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Origin
Albany, GA
Late night in Albany on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Villa Rica, GA
Late night in Villa Rica on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Hamilton, GA
93 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
17 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.
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
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 38.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
186.1 mi in 3h 56m — 38% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Martha Berry Highway.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.6 mi on Martha Berry Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near GA 91 / North Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 186.1 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: near the start (GA 91 / North Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,158 ft
202 ft
Total Climb
1,361 ft
Total Descent
424 ft
Highest Point
1,158 ft
~159.5 mi in
Elevation Range
956 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Albany, GA to Villa Rica, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Atlanta along the way.
Atlanta
79.5 mi in
|
~1h 41m
About the Cities
Starting in Albany, GA
Full guide →Founded 1836
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.
Top landmarks
- • Albany Municipal Auditorium — concert hall and multi-use auditorium in Albany, Georgia
- • Old St. Teresa Catholic Church — church building in Albany, United States of America
- • United States Post Office and Courthouse — historic building in Albany, Georgia
Arriving in Villa Rica, GA
Full guide →Founded 1826
Top landmarks
- • Pine Mountain Gold Mine — historic mine in Douglas County, Georgia, US
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 186.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.6 miles on Martha Berry Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Villa Rica, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 91 / North Jefferson Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
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 Villa Rica, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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