Clarkesville to Albany is 260.5 miles and takes about 5 hours via Fall Line Freeway and I-75, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward trip. Given the 5-hour estimate, it's a manageable one-day drive, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
130.3 miles from Clarkesville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Fall Line Freeway
56.9 mi
1h
I 75
49.3 mi
53m
Georgia-Florida Parkway
35.1 mi
43m
Lanier Parkway
24.2 mi
26m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
17.5 mi
20m
I 85
16.8 mi
18m
Larry Justice Highway
16.1 mi
17m
Cornelia Highway
13 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Fall Line Freeway
— 56.9 mi, about 1h
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 158 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~7,550 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~948 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Clarkesville, GA and Albany, GA.
1
Start on Madison Street
100 ft·10 sec·Madison Street
2
Turn left onto West Franklin Street
248 ft·13 sec·West Franklin Street
3
Turn right onto US 441 Business; GA 17; GA 197; GA 385
0.8 mi·1 min·Washington Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 441 Business; GA 385
502 ft·10 sec·West Louise Street
5
Turn straight onto US 441 Business; GA 385
0.4 mi·40 sec·West Louise Drive
6
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 385
2.8 mi·4 min·West Louise Street
7
Continue on US 441 Business; 385
0.2 mi·25 sec·Central Avenue
8
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 385
1.1 mi·1 min·US 441 Business; GA 385
9
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 105; GA 385
0.4 mi·42 sec·US 441 Business; GA 105; GA 385
10
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
11
Merge onto US 23; US 441; GA 15; GA 365
0.7 mi·49 sec·US 23; US 441; GA 15; GA 365
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 23; GA 365
7.2 mi·8 min·Tommy Irwin Parkway
13
Continue on US 23; GA 365
13 mi·15 min·Cornelia Highway
14
Continue on I 985; US 23
24 mi·26 min·Lanier Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 85
6.6 mi·7 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
10 mi·10 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 95AToward I 285 Bypass East: Augusta, MaconUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·27 sec
Toward I 285 South: Augusta, MaconUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 285
18 mi·20 min·Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 52Toward I 675 South: MaconUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 675
10 mi·11 min·Terrell Starr Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 75
49 mi·53 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
23
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.
24
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
57 mi·1 hr·Fall Line Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 99Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto GA 300
35 mi·43 min·Georgia-Florida Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on Cordele Road
0.3 mi·41 sec·Cordele Road
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto Old Cordele Road
0.2 mi·21 sec·Old Cordele Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Turn straight onto US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
449 ft·10 sec·Sylvester Highway
30
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
2.9 mi·4 min·East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
365 ft·16 sec·South Broadway Street
Use the right lane.
32
Turn left onto East Broad Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·East Broad Avenue
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto North Front Street
510 ft·12 sec·North Front Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
110 ft·2 sec·Pine Avenue
35
Continue on Pine Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Pine Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
Pine Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and arrive well before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop as needed, though only one stop is factored into the estimated duration. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you approach Albany, as the $41 estimate is for the entire trip. The longest stretch without a major break is nearly 57 miles on the Fall Line Freeway, so plan accordingly for that segment.
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 130.3 miles from Clarkesville, GA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 57 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.3 miles or 2h 31m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarkesville, 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 Clarkesville, GA
This is one driving day of about 260.5 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Clarkesville, 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 Fall Line Freeway for about 56.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 68.4 and 220.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
68.4 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward I 285 Bypass East: Augusta, Macon
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 95A
Toward I 285 Bypass East: Augusta, Macon
8
69.1 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 South: Augusta, Macon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 South: Augusta, Macon
7
87 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 675 South: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 52
Toward I 675 South: Macon
8
147.6 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
220.6 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, Albany
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 99
Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.57 one way
$77.14 round trip
$3.76/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.24
$43.51
$87.01
premium
$4.67
$47.87
$95.75
diesel
$5.76
$59.06
$118.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.35
$12.50
Efficient EV
65.1
0
$22.79
$10.42
EV Truck/SUV
104.2
1
$36.47
$16.67
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Clarkesville, GA
Morning
in Clarkesville on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
N 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 17 at 4:53AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 2:32AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
Destination
Albany, GA
Morning
in Albany on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
N 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 17 at 4:53AM EDT by NWS Charleston SC
Lake Wind Advisory
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 17 at 2:32AM EDT until October 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Columbia SC
48°F
Jackson, GA
130 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
5 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
5h 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.
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,...
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 80.9
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 161.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
With 77% of this route on highways, expect a predominantly high-speed driving experience. The longest continuous stretch on the Fall Line Freeway measures 56.9 miles. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads, which will likely feature more frequent exits and potentially slower local traffic. The majority of your time will be spent on the interstate.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.9 mi on Fall Line Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fall Line Freeway and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 68.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 260.5 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 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,366 ft202 ft
Total Climb
155 ft
Total Descent
1,319 ft
Highest Point
1,366 ft
Elevation Range
1,164 ft
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 Clarkesville, GA to Albany, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Macon along the way.
Albany is a city of 72,000 people (2019) in Dougherty County in Georgia's Plantation Midlands region. It is part of the Black Belt, the extensive area in the Deep South of cotton plantations. During 1961–1962, African Americans in Albany played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement, founding the Albany Movement, a desegregation and voters' rights coalition formed in 1961. Ray Charles, the singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer, was born here, and is remembered in a park with a statue.
Top landmarks
•Albany Municipal Auditorium — concert hall and multi-use auditorium in Albany, Georgia
•Old St. Teresa Catholic Church — church building in Albany, United States of America
•United States Post Office and Courthouse — historic building in Albany, Georgia
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h. Total distance: 260.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.9 miles on Fall Line Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 29 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 Albany, 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 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 68.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 69.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Albany, GA before the return drive.
