Augusta, GA to Forsyth, GA is 140.6 miles and takes about 2h 51m via Carl Sanders Highway and Monticello Highway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, connecting the Southeast region from one point to another. The profile suggests you'll spend most of your time on surface roads, so don't expect a constant highway experience. It's a straightforward drive, easily manageable in a single day, perfect for a quick hop between 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
70.3 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
85.2 mi
1h 31m
Monticello Highway
21.9 mi
30m
GA Hwy 83
18.9 mi
26m
GA 83
5.4 mi
7m
Washington Road
2.5 mi
4m
Calhoun Expressway
1.7 mi
1m
Forsyth Street
1.2 mi
2m
Purple Heart Highway
0.8 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 85.2 mi, about 1h 31m
Traffic on I-20
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,812 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,441
Quietest
2 AM
~187 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Augusta, GA and Forsyth, 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
0.8 mi·53 sec·Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 113Toward GA 83: Madison, MonticelloUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto GA 83
22 mi·30 min·Monticello Highway
12
Continue on GA 83
0.2 mi·16 sec·Madison Road
13
Continue on GA 83
0.4 mi·50 sec·Madison Street
14
Continue on GA 83
0.2 mi·29 sec·North Warren Street
15
Turn right onto GA 16; GA 83; GA 212
175 ft·6 sec·West Greene Street
16
Turn left onto GA 11; GA 16; GA 83; GA 212
1.2 mi·2 min·Forsyth Street
17
Continue on GA 83
5.4 mi·7 min·GA 83
18
Continue on GA 83
19 mi·26 min·GA Hwy 83
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on GA 42; GA 83
0.4 mi·1 min·North Lee Street
20
Turn left onto US 41; GA 18
82 ft·2 sec·East Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
US 41; GA 18
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under 3 hours, you have flexibility with when you depart. Leaving Augusta, GA in the morning allows ample time to reach Forsyth, GA without feeling rushed. The longest stretch is 85.2 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $23 fuel cost. Since this is a single-day trip, you can take advantage of the short duration by stopping whenever you feel the need, rather than adhering to a strict schedule. The predominantly surface road profile means you'll encounter more local traffic and intersections, so stay alert.
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 70.3 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 1h 18m 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 31 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 18m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forsyth, 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 140.6 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 140.5 — 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.
8
91.8 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
4
92.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|GA 83 / Monticello Highway
Turn left onto GA 83 / Monticello Highway
Navigation decision point
6
140.5 mi into trip|~2h 51m in|US 41; GA 18 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 41; GA 18 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.36 one way
$44.73 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$24.38
$48.77
premium
$4.78
$26.45
$52.91
diesel
$5.35
$29.61
$59.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.76
$6.75
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.30
$5.62
EV Truck/SUV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Augusta, GA
Evening
in Augusta on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 2:53PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued June 2 at 2:17PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Destination
Forsyth, GA
Evening
in Forsyth on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
NE 5 to 10 mph39% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued June 2 at 2:53PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued June 2 at 2:17PM EDT until June 3 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
88°F
Morrow, GA
70 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
23 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 51m 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.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 140.6
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 140.6 miles, with 18% on highways. The longest stretch on a highway is 85.2 miles on Carl Sanders Highway. After this highway segment, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. You'll notice the shift from higher-speed highway driving to more typical surface road conditions as you progress.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 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?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near 15th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 51m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 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 91.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
725 ft140 ft
Total Climb
1,116 ft
Total Descent
530 ft
Highest Point
725 ft
~140.6 mi in
Elevation Range
585 ft
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 Augusta, GA to Forsyth, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
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.
Top landmarks
•Augusta National Golf Club — golf course in Georgia, United States
•Augusta Canal — canal in Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
•Morris Museum of Art — museum in Augusta, Georgia, USA
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.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
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 0.8 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 91.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. 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 Forsyth, GA before heading back.
