California, GA to Vienna, GA is 160 miles and takes about 3 hours via I 75 and Fall Line Freeway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip that's easy to complete in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick connection between these two points. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, so expect a functional, albeit not particularly scenic, transit.
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
79.9 miles from California, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
64.8 mi
1h 11m
Fall Line Freeway
43.6 mi
46m
Larry Justice Highway
16.1 mi
17m
Tom Murphy Freeway
12.2 mi
14m
C H James Parkway
7.4 mi
10m
Thornton Road
3.5 mi
5m
GA 27
3.3 mi
5m
James Wendell George Parkway
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 11m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 106 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~5,092 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,011
Quietest
2 AM
~824 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.2×
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 California, GA and Vienna, GA.
1
Start on GA 92
2.0 mi·3 min·Hiram Acworth Highway
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto US 278; GA 6
0.9 mi·1 min·Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
3
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi·1 min·Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi·10 min·C H James Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
Continue on US 278; GA 6
3.5 mi·5 min·Thornton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: AtlantaUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 20
12 mi·14 min·Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 57Toward I 75 North, I 85 North, I 75 South, I 85 South: Chattanooga, Greenville, Macon, MontgomeryUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 South, I 85 South: Macon, MontgomeryUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 75; I 85
1.0 mi·1 min·Downtown Connector
11
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi·3 min·James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
16 mi·17 min·Larry Justice Highway
Exit 177Toward I 475 South: ValdostaUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
44 mi·46 min·Fall Line Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 112Toward GA_27: Vienna, HawkinsvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
144 ft·3 sec
17
Turn straight onto GA 27
3.3 mi·5 min·GA 27
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
GA 27
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Vienna, GA with plenty of daylight remaining. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan it strategically along I 75 for a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $25, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Because this is a shorter, single-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time and can adjust based on traffic or personal preference.
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 79.9 miles from California, GA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 35 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 38m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vienna, 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 159.9 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 I 75 for about 64.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Final third
4.7 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
Warner Robins, Georgia
Hours: 6–10 AM
+14789711550
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 156.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2 mi into trip|~3m in|US 278; GA 6 / Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Turn left onto US 278; GA 6 / Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
27.4 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward I 75 North, I 85 North, I 75 South, I 85 South: Chattanooga, Greenville, Macon, Montgomery
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 57
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North, I 75 South, I 85...
8
27.6 mi into trip|~39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South, I 85 South: Macon, Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South, I 85 South: Macon, Montgomer...
8
96.3 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|I 475 / Larry Justice Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 South: Valdosta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177
Toward I 475 South: Valdosta
8
156.1 mi into trip|~3h in
Take the exit toward GA_27: Vienna, Hawkinsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 112
Toward GA_27: Vienna, Hawkinsville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.61 one way
$47.21 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$25.94
$51.89
premium
$4.49
$28.28
$56.56
diesel
$4.80
$30.19
$60.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48
0
$16.79
$7.68
Efficient EV
40
0
$13.99
$6.40
EV Truck/SUV
64
0
$22.39
$10.23
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
California, GA
Morning
in California on Sunday
Local time
7:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
0 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:36PM EDT until July 19 at 4:30AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Destination
Vienna, GA
Morning
in Vienna on Sunday
Local time
7:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:36PM EDT until July 19 at 4:30AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
88°F
College Park, GA
80 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 6m 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.
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...
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 110.3
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is an 85% highway drive, with the longest continuous stretch on I 75 covering 64.8 miles. You'll experience highway cruising for the majority of the 160 miles. The transition to surface roads like Larry Justice Highway will occur later in the trip. Expect a relatively high number of exits and interchanges as you navigate the interstate system.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Fall Line Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near US 278; GA 6 / Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 159.9 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 2 miles (US 278; GA 6 / Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,044 ft319 ft
Total Climb
56 ft
Total Descent
781 ft
Highest Point
1,044 ft
Elevation Range
725 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between California, GA and Vienna, GA, road signs point toward Greenville, Macon and Montgomery.
Greenville
27.4 mi in|~38m
Macon
27.4 mi in|~38m
Montgomery
27.4 mi in|~38m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
One of the most diverse states in the Union, California has a culture ranging from the easygoing surf spots on the beaches of Southern California to the glamor of Hollywood, and the counterculture and thriving businesses of the Bay Area. The state, which is on the west coast of the U.S., also varies greatly in natural beauty, from redwood forests on the North Coast to the ski resorts of the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains and the harsh desert of Death Valley. The largest state in the U.S. by population and the third largest by area, California boasts world-famous attractions and sights: Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Napa Valley wine country, and the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney.
Top landmarks
•Yosemite National Park — national park in California, United States
•San Francisco Bay — bay of the Pacific Ocean on the California coast of the United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 159.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 25 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 Vienna, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (US 278; GA 6 / Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Ocmulgee Mounds 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 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Vienna, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
