Origin
Augusta, GA
Late night in Augusta on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Augusta, GA to Smyrna, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 44m
Distance
88.4 mi
142 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 37m
★
6 AM
1h 45m
8 AM
2h 0m
10 AM
1h 50m
12 PM
1h 49m
3 PM
1h 51m
5 PM
1h 59m
8 PM
1h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Augusta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Augusta, GA to Smyrna, GA is 88.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via Carl Sanders Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a straightforward trip primarily on surface roads, making it a convenient option for a quick transit. It's a manageable distance, allowing for flexibility in your travel plans without feeling rushed. Consider this route for its simplicity and efficiency in getting you from point A to point B.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carl Sanders Highway | 77.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| Buckhead Road | 3.4 mi | 8m |
| Washington Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Calhoun Expressway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| Seven Islands Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Walton Way | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 15th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Parks Mill Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 77.7 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Augusta, GA and Smyrna, 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
78 mi
·
1 hr 23 min
·
Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee, Buckhead Historic District
10
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
this road
Exit 121
Toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee, Buckhead Historic District
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto Seven Islands Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Seven Islands Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto Parks Mill Road
244 ft
·
9 sec
·
Parks Mill Road
13
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
3.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Buckhead Road
14
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 44 minutes, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to budget around $14 for fuel, and since there are no designated stops in the data, plan to refuel before you leave Augusta or upon arrival in Smyrna. The route relies heavily on surface roads, so be prepared for varied traffic conditions and speed limits, especially as you approach your destination. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid peak commuter times in both cities.
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 44.2 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.7 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smyrna, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Augusta, GA
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 77.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Augusta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Carl Sanders Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 85 — 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
83.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee, Buckhead Historic District
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee, Buckhead Historic...
5
83.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Continue toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee, Buckhead Historic District
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 121
Toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee, Buckhead Historic...
4
85 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
Parks Mill Road
At end of road, turn left onto Parks Mill Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.82 one way
$27.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.12 | $30.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.36 | $32.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.52 | $39.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.38 | $5.66 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Smyrna, GA
Late night in Smyrna on Tuesday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
28 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
1h 44m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a significant portion on surface roads, with only a 2% highway share. The Carl Sanders Highway accounts for the longest continuous stretch at 77.7 miles before you transition to Buckhead Road and Washington Road. Keep an eye out for the frequent changes in speed limits and potential for local traffic as you move from the highway segment onto the surface roads. The drive is predominantly on local arteries rather than high-speed interstates.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.7 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 Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 44m 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 83.4 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Augusta, GA and Smyrna, GA, road signs point toward Buckhead, Lake Oconee and Buckhead Historic District.
Buckhead
83.4 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Lake Oconee
83.4 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Buckhead Historic District
83.4 mi in
|
~1h 32m
About the Cities
Starting in Augusta, GA
Full guide →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.
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 1h 44m. Total distance: 88.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.7 miles on Carl Sanders Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 83.4 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 Smyrna, GA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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