Columbus, GA to Cave Spring, GA is 133.8 miles and takes about 2h 56m via Chet Atkins Parkway and Martha Berry Highway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a same-day excursion.
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
66.9 miles from Columbus, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chet Atkins Parkway
35.8 mi
38m
Martha Berry Highway
31.7 mi
37m
Bremen Bypass
23.3 mi
30m
South Park Street
11.4 mi
17m
New Franklin Road
7.6 mi
11m
Hamilton Road
7.4 mi
11m
Cave Spring Road
4.6 mi
8m
Old Cave Spring Road
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Chet Atkins Parkway
— 35.8 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, GA and Cave Spring, GA.
1
Start on US 27; GA 1
11 ft·5 sec·Veterans Parkway
2
Continue on US 27; GA 1
0.3 mi·46 sec·Veterans Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto 10th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·10th Street
4
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
404 ft·16 sec·10th Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn sharp right onto Wynnton Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Wynnton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on GA 22 Spur
1.1 mi·1 min·Macon Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 185 NorthUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 185
36 mi·38 min·Chet Atkins Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 42Toward US 27: LaGrange
10
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
7.4 mi·11 min·Hamilton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
359 ft·9 sec
Toward US 27, GA 1, GA 219
12
Merge onto US 27; GA 1; GA 219
0.2 mi·20 sec·Whitesville Street
13
Continue on US 27; GA 1; GA 219
0.5 mi·1 min·Morgan Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 27; US 29; GA 1; GA 14
7.6 mi·11 min·New Franklin Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on US 27; GA 1
32 mi·37 min·Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on US 27; GA 1
0.7 mi·1 min·South Park Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 27; GA 1; GA 16
11 mi·16 min·South Park Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 27; GA 1
23 mi·30 min·Bremen Bypass
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
147 ft·5 sec
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto US 27 Business; GA 1 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·South Main Street
21
Turn left onto US 278; GA 6; GA 100
0.1 mi·15 sec·Canal Street
22
Turn right onto South College Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South College Street
23
Turn left onto Wissahickon Avenue
0.1 mi·14 sec·Wissahickon Avenue
24
Turn right onto North Cave Spring Street
0.7 mi·1 min·North Cave Spring Street
25
Continue on Cave Spring Road
4.6 mi·8 min·Cave Spring Road
26
Continue on Old Cave Spring Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Old Cave Spring Road
27
Continue on Cave Spring Cedartown Road Southwest
1.2 mi·2 min·Cave Spring Cedartown Road Southwest
28
Continue on Old Cedartown Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Old Cedartown Road
29
Arrive at destination
Old Cedartown Road
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 56m drive time, starting your trip in the morning allows ample time for the drive and any brief stops. The route has only one recommended stop, so you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $21, and plan your fill-up accordingly, especially since a significant portion is on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch without a potential stop is 35.8 miles on Chet Atkins Parkway, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before departing.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.9 miles from Columbus, GA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.8 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 29 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 23m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cave Spring, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbus, 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 Columbus, GA
This is one driving day of about 133.8 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Columbus, 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 35.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 122.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 27; GA 1 / Veterans Parkway
Continue onto US 27; GA 1 / Veterans Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|10th Avenue
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Wynnton Road
Turn sharp right onto Wynnton Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 185 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 185 North
6
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.92 one way
$41.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.88
$45.76
premium
$4.70
$24.76
$49.53
diesel
$5.61
$29.54
$59.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.1
0
$14.05
$6.42
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.71
$5.35
EV Truck/SUV
53.5
0
$18.73
$8.56
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Columbus, GA
Late night
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Cave Spring, GA
Late night
in Cave Spring on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Mount Zion, GA
67 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
4 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
2h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 27% highway driving, with the longest stretch on Chet Atkins Parkway covering 35.8 miles. You'll transition from highway to surface roads, so be prepared for more frequent intersections and traffic lights after the highway sections conclude. The profile is mostly surface roads, indicating a less intense driving experience with more opportunities to observe the local surroundings.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.8 mi on Chet Atkins Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near US 27; GA 1 / Veterans Parkway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 133.8 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: near the start (US 27; GA 1 / Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Wynnton Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 133.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.8 miles on Chet Atkins Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Cave Spring, 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 3 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 27; GA 1 / Veterans Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (10th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles (Wynnton Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Cave Spring, GA before heading back.
