Skip to main content

Trip from California, GA to Cuthbert, GA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 32m

Distance

169.4 mi

273 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 20m ★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown California, GA, GA

California, GA

Lesli Whitecotton

Downtown Cuthbert, GA, GA

Cuthbert, GA

Marcella Soáres

Trip Overview

California, GA to Cuthbert, GA is 169.4 miles and takes about 3h 32m via Chet Atkins Parkway and I 85, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, making it a straightforward journey without crossing state lines. The drive offers a mixed experience, blending highway speeds with potentially more local road sections. Given its manageable duration and distance, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for a relaxed pace and flexibility for any unexpected detours.

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

84.7 miles from California, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chet Atkins Parkway 50.5 mi 55m
Martha Berry Highway 36.8 mi 43m
I 85 29.6 mi 31m
Victory Drive 11.6 mi 15m
Palmetto Cascade Highway 8.6 mi 14m
Hiram Douglasville Highway 6.6 mi 10m
Fairburn Road 6.1 mi 10m
Main Street 4.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Chet Atkins Parkway — 50.5 mi, about 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between California, GA and Cuthbert, GA.

1

Start on GA 92

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hiram Acworth Highway
Use the left lane.
2

Continue on GA 92

0.6 mi · 56 sec · Hiram Douglasville Highway
3

Continue on GA 92

0.9 mi · 1 min · Hiram Douglasville Road
4

Continue on GA 92

6.0 mi · 9 min · Hiram Douglasville Highway
5

Continue on GA 92

3.1 mi · 5 min · Dallas Highway
6

Continue on GA 92

6.1 mi · 10 min · Fairburn Road
Use the straight lane.
7

Turn right onto GA 70; GA 92; GA 154; GA 166

3.5 mi · 5 min · GA 70; GA 92; GA 154; GA 166
8

Enter roundabout onto GA 70; GA 92; GA 154

253 ft · 4 sec · GA 70; GA 92; GA 154
9

Continue on GA 70; GA 92; GA 154

0.7 mi · 1 min · GA 70; GA 92; GA 154
10

Turn right onto GA 70; GA 154

2.2 mi · 3 min · Palmetto Cascade Highway
11

Enter roundabout onto GA 70; GA 154

116 ft · 2 sec · Palmetto Cascade Highway
12

Continue on GA 70; GA 154

6.4 mi · 10 min · Palmetto Cascade Highway
13

Turn right onto US 29; GA 14; GA 154

1.3 mi · 1 min · Roosevelt Highway
14

Continue on US 29; GA 14; GA 154

4.6 mi · 6 min · Main Street
15

Turn left onto 154

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Sharpsburg McCollum Road
16

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 85 South: Montgomery
17

Merge onto I 85

30 mi · 31 min · I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 185

51 mi · 55 min · Chet Atkins Parkway
Exit 21 Toward I 185 South: Columbus Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Exit 1A Toward US 27 South, GA 1 South, US 280 East, GA 520 East: Cusseta, Albany
20

Merge onto US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520

12 mi · 15 min · Victory Drive
21

Continue on Martha Berry Highway

36 mi · 42 min · Martha Berry Highway
22

Continue on US 27; GA 1

1.2 mi · 1 min · US 27; GA 1
23

Turn right onto US 27 Business

0.5 mi · 51 sec · Martha Berry Highway
Use the right lane.
24

Continue on US 27 Business

1.0 mi · 2 min · Court Street
25

At end of road, turn right onto US 82; GA 50; US 27 Business

128 ft · 3 sec · Pearl Street
26

Turn slight left onto US 82; GA 50; US 27 Business

236 ft · 6 sec · Plum Street
27

Turn slight left onto US 82; GA 50; US 27 Business

96 ft · 2 sec · West Dawson Street
28

Arrive at destination

US 82; GA 50; US 27 Business

Trip Plan

For this 1-day trip, consider leaving California, GA, in the morning to make the most of daylight. The total drive time is just over 3.5 hours, so you can comfortably complete it without needing an overnight stay. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where to take a break based on your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 50.5-mile stretch on Chet Atkins Parkway, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. Your estimated fuel cost is $26, so factor that into your budget.

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 84.7 miles from California, GA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.5 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 37 miles or 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 84.7 miles or 1h 52m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cuthbert, GA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving California, 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 California, GA

This is one driving day of about 169.4 miles and 3h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from California, 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 Chet Atkins Parkway for about 50.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Coweta County, Georgia, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newnan, GA

85 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

Palmetto, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Smiths Station, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 84.7 miles from California, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 167.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | GA 92 / Hiram Acworth Highway

Depart onto GA 92 / Hiram Acworth Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
38.3 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | I 85

Merge onto I 85

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
67.9 mi into trip | ~1h 33m in | I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway toward I 185 South: Columbus

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 21 Toward I 185 South: Columbus
6
118.4 mi into trip | ~2h 28m in

Take the exit toward US 27 South, GA 1 South, US 280 East, GA 520 East: Cusseta, Albany

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 1A Toward US 27 South, GA 1 South, US 280 East, GA...
5
167.7 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in | US 27 Business / Martha Berry Highway

Turn right onto US 27 Business / Martha Berry Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.49 one way

$52.98 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $28.96 $57.93
premium $4.70 $31.35 $62.70
diesel $5.61 $37.40 $74.80

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.8 0 $17.79 $8.13
Efficient EV 42.4 0 $14.82 $6.78
EV Truck/SUV 67.8 0 $23.72 $10.84

Gas CO2

59 kg

EV CO2

20 kg (66% 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 16, 2026

Origin

California, GA

Night in California on Saturday

Local time

10:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cuthbert, GA

Night in Cuthbert on Saturday

Local time

10:45 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

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

3h 32m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park

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...

17 mi from route ~42 min detour Free near mile 17.5
View on nps.gov
Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influenc...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 151.8
View on nps.gov
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

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,...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour $5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route presents a mixed drive, with 51% of it on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster travel on roads like I 85 and Martha Berry Highway, interspersed with segments on Chet Atkins Parkway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 50.5 miles on Chet Atkins Parkway, which might involve more varied terrain and potentially lower speeds compared to interstate driving. Expect the road character to shift as you progress, moving from broader highways to potentially more winding or scenic local routes as you approach your destination.

51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.5 mi on Chet Atkins Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near GA 92 / Hiram Acworth Highway.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 169.4 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (GA 92 / Hiram Acworth Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles (I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 California, GA to Cuthbert, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.

Albany

118.4 mi in | ~2h 28m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 169.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (51%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 50.5 miles on Chet Atkins Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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: near the start (GA 92 / Hiram Acworth Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 38.3 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 67.9 miles (I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Jimmy Carter National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Cuthbert, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from California, GA or browse trips ending in Cuthbert, GA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.