This 102.2-mile drive from Augusta, GA to Hartwell, GA is a manageable 2-hour, 14-minute journey. It's an ideal candidate for a single-day trip, with no need to split the driving. Expect to spend around $16 on fuel for this stretch. The route stays within the Southeast region and Georgia, offering a consistent feel throughout. Given its relatively short duration and local road focus, this trip is best suited for those who enjoy a more deliberate pace of travel rather than a quick transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.1 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
26.9 mi
28m
Elberton Highway
13.6 mi
19m
Washington Road
13.3 mi
17m
Thomson Road
11 mi
13m
Washington Highway
9.6 mi
13m
Hartwell Highway
9.4 mi
12m
Tignall Road
8.4 mi
12m
Elbert Street
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 26.9 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Augusta, GA and Hartwell, 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
27 mi·28 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward US 78, GA 17: Thomson, Washington
10
Turn right onto GA 17
11 mi·12 min·Washington Road
11
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 17
11 mi·13 min·Thomson Road
12
Turn left onto US 78; GA 10
0.6 mi·46 sec·US 78; GA 10
13
Turn right onto GA 17 BUS; GA 44
0.9 mi·1 min·Tignall Road
14
Turn left onto GA 17
7.4 mi·10 min·Tignall Road
15
Continue on GA 17
1.8 mi·2 min·South Hulin Avenue
16
Continue on GA 17
6.8 mi·9 min·Elberton Highway
17
Continue on GA 17
9.6 mi·13 min·Washington Highway
18
Continue on GA 17
1.3 mi·2 min·Elbert Street
19
Continue on GA 17; GA 72
0.1 mi·7 sec·Heard Street
20
Continue on GA 17; GA 72
0.7 mi·46 sec·Elbert Street
21
Turn right onto GA 77
1.0 mi·1 min·North Oliver Street
22
Continue on GA 77
9.4 mi·12 min·Hartwell Highway
23
Continue on GA 77
0.9 mi·1 min·Elberton Highway
24
Continue on GA 77
2.8 mi·4 min·Elberton Highway
25
Continue on GA 77
3.1 mi·4 min·Elberton Highway
26
Continue on GA 77
0.9 mi·1 min·Benson Street
27
Continue on Benson Street
360 ft·19 sec·Benson Street
28
Turn right onto South Forest Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·South Forest Avenue
29
Arrive at destination
North Forest Avenue
Trip Plan
For this local drive from Augusta to Hartwell, consider departing mid-morning to avoid the busiest local traffic. With a duration under 2.5 hours and no designated stops, you have the flexibility to pause as needed, perhaps for a quick break or to grab a bite. The $16 fuel cost is modest, so ensure your tank is reasonably full before leaving Augusta. Keep an eye out for frequent turns and changes in speed limits as you transition from urban to more rural settings on Washington Road and beyond.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.1 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.9 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 22 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.1 miles or 1h 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 1h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartwell, 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 102.2 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Augusta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Carl Sanders Highway for about 26.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 102.1 — 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.
5
32.7 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 78, GA 17: Thomson, Washington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 78, GA 17: Thomson, Washington
4
55.3 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|GA 17 BUS; GA 44 / Tignall Road
Turn right onto GA 17 BUS; GA 44 / Tignall Road
Navigation decision point
5
102.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|South Forest Avenue
Turn right onto South Forest Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.98 one way
$31.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.47
$34.95
premium
$4.70
$18.92
$37.83
diesel
$5.61
$22.56
$45.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.7
0
$10.73
$4.91
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.94
$4.09
EV Truck/SUV
40.9
0
$14.31
$6.54
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hartwell, GA
Late night
in Hartwell on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Washington, GA
51 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
40 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 14m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with a 0% highway share. You won't be encountering any high-speed interstate travel here. Instead, anticipate navigating through city streets and local roads, indicated by the use of 15th Street and Calhoun Expressway in Augusta, and Washington Road as you progress. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction, making it a more engaging, albeit slower, driving experience.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.9 mi on Carl Sanders Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m drive. You will face about 8 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 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hartwell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Washington along the way.
Washington
32.7 mi in|~38m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 102.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 26.9 miles on Carl Sanders Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hartwell, GA before heading back.
