This 148.3-mile journey from Augusta, GA, to Druid Hills, GA, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 2 hours and 47 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via the Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, and Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. With a fuel cost estimated at $23, this drive is an economical option for a quick trip within the Southeast region. The route offers a straightforward path, making it easy to manage in one day without needing an overnight stop. Plan for a single planned stop along the way.
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
74.2 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
85.2 mi
1h 31m
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
7.4 mi
8m
Washington Road
2.5 mi
4m
Calhoun Expressway
1.7 mi
1m
Moreland Avenue Northeast
1.4 mi
3m
Walton Way
0.7 mi
1m
Oakdale Road Northeast
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 85.2 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Augusta, GA and Druid Hills, GA.
1
Start on Walton Way
0.7 mi·1 min·Walton Way
2
Turn straight
235 ft·8 sec
3
Turn right onto 15th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·15th Street
4
Turn slight left
0.3 mi·40 sec
5
Merge onto GA 28
1.7 mi·1 min·Calhoun Expressway
6
Continue on GA 28
2.5 mi·4 min·Washington Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
8
Merge onto I 20
85 mi·1 hr 31 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 20
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 20
7.4 mi·8 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 60Toward US 23: Moreland AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
191 ft·4 sec
Exit 60Toward Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Carter Center, EmoryUse the right lane.
13
Merge onto US 23; GA 42
0.4 mi·1 min·Moreland Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on US 23; GA 42
1.4 mi·3 min·Moreland Avenue Northeast
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 23; US 29; US 78; US 278; GA 8; GA 10
0.4 mi·1 min·Ponce de Leon Avenue Northeast
16
Turn left onto Oakdale Road Northeast
0.5 mi·1 min·Oakdale Road Northeast
17
Turn right onto The By Way Northeast
91 ft·3 sec·The By Way Northeast
18
Arrive at destination
The By Way Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 47-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Druid Hills. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing when and where to break up the 148.3-mile trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $23 for the entire journey. A practical tip for this route: be prepared for varying speed limits as you transition between highway and local road segments, especially when you are on the Carl Sanders Highway.
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 74.2 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.2 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.2 miles or 1h 22m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Druid Hills, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Augusta, 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 Augusta, GA
This is one driving day of about 148.3 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Augusta, 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 85.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 145.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|15th Street
Turn right onto 15th Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in|I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
145.3 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 23: Moreland Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 60
Toward US 23: Moreland Avenue
10
145.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Carter Center, Emory
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 60
Toward Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Carte...
5
145.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 23; GA 42 / Moreland Avenue Southeast
Merge onto US 23; GA 42 / Moreland Avenue Southeast
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.19 one way
$46.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.36
$50.71
premium
$4.70
$27.45
$54.89
diesel
$5.61
$32.74
$65.49
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: 51.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.5
0
$15.57
$7.12
Efficient EV
37.1
0
$12.98
$5.93
EV Truck/SUV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Augusta, GA
Late night
in Augusta on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 1:51PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:32PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Destination
Druid Hills, GA
Late night
in Druid Hills on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Madison, GA
74 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
27 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
2h 47m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 148.3
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,...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$5
near mile 148.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive with a significant number of turns, characteristic of a local road experience, even with a 6% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 85.2 miles on the Carl Sanders Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel. While parts of the route utilize main highways, the overall feel is more akin to navigating through communities rather than a pure interstate cruise. The road's personality shifts, blending stretches of faster travel with more involved local road sections.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.2 mi on Carl Sanders Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near 15th Street.
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 148.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.8 miles (15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Augusta is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland. Due to its location inland on the Savannah River, Augusta was a city of major strategic importance by the end of the Civil War. It was spared most of the destruction of many other southern cities, so there are many old buildings and landmarks. Augusta is also home to the Augusta National Golf Club, one of the world's most prestigious and exclusive golf clubs, which plays host to the Masters golf tournament.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 148.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.2 miles on Carl Sanders Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Druid Hills, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (15th Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 145.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Druid Hills, GA before heading back.
