Augusta, GA to Trenton, GA is 283.3 miles and takes about 5h 17m via Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, connecting the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a high-speed interstate journey. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
141.7 miles from Augusta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
98.4 mi
1h 47m
Carl Sanders Highway
85.2 mi
1h 31m
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
I 24
16.7 mi
21m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
9.1 mi
10m
I 59
7.6 mi
8m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
8m
Downtown Connector
3.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
— 98.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 95 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~4,117 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,942
Quietest
2 AM
~697 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
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 Trenton, 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
9.1 mi·10 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 58BToward Hill Street, Turner FieldUse the slight right lane.
12
At end of road, turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
0.2 mi·41 sec·Hill Street Southeast
13
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.3 mi·29 sec·Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
15
Merge onto I 75; I 85
3.1 mi·4 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 75
11 mi·12 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
88 mi·1 hr 35 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on I 24
17 mi·21 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.8 mi·48 sec
Exit 167Toward I 59 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / straight lanes.
22
Continue on I 59
7.6 mi·8 min·I 59
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 11Toward GA 136: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto GA 136
0.3 mi·44 sec·White Oak Gap Road
25
Turn left onto US 11; GA 58
0.3 mi·24 sec·South Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
US 11; GA 58
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Augusta, GA, to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, budgeting around $44 for gas, as you'll be on surface roads for a significant portion. The longest highway segment is 98.4 miles on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before transitioning to non-highway driving.
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 141.7 miles from Augusta, GA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.4 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 62 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.7 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Trenton, 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 283.3 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 Larry McDonald Memorial Highway for about 98.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 147 and 274.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
147 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward Hill Street, Turner Field
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 58B
Toward Hill Street, Turner Field
8
151.1 mi into trip|~2h 48m in|I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
168.8 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
7
256.7 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, Nashville
7
274.1 mi into trip|~5h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 167
Toward I 59 South: Birmingham
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.06 one way
$90.12 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$49.13
$98.26
premium
$4.78
$53.30
$106.61
diesel
$5.35
$59.67
$119.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85
1
$29.75
$13.60
Efficient EV
70.8
0
$24.79
$11.33
EV Truck/SUV
113.3
1
$39.66
$18.13
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 1, 2026
Origin
Augusta, GA
Afternoon
in Augusta on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Rain Showers
NE 1 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Trenton, GA
Afternoon
in Trenton on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
2 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
5h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 146.5
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,...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$5
near mile 156.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a 15% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 98.4 miles along the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. After the highway portion, expect a change to more varied surface roads. You'll notice a shift from higher-speed travel to a more cruising pace.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.4 mi on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 147 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 283.3 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: at 147 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.1 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.8 miles (I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
948 ft140 ft
Total Climb
1,210 ft
Total Descent
594 ft
Highest Point
948 ft
~202.4 mi in
Elevation Range
808 ft
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 Trenton, GA, road signs point toward Turner Field, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and Nashville.
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
Trenton is in Mercer County, and is the capital of New Jersey. The city's strategic location in between New York City and Philadelphia has historically contributed to its growth and significantly impacts local culture. Located on the Delaware River across from Pennsylvania, Trenton is the only accessible capital city in the United States to border another state.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 17m. Total distance: 283.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.4 miles on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 37 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 Trenton, 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 37 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 147 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151.1 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.8 miles (I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Trenton, GA before the return drive.
