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Trip from Columbus, GA to Clarkesville, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 40m
Distance
191.3 mi
308 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 28m
★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Clarkesville, GA
Thomas K
Trip Overview
Columbus, GA to Clarkesville, GA is 191.3 miles and takes about 3h 40m via Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. The drive mixes highway cruising with surface roads, offering a straightforward path for a single-day excursion. Given its manageable length and estimated fuel cost, this route is a practical option for those looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points in Georgia.
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
95.6 miles from Columbus, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway | 58.8 mi | 1h 5m |
| Chet Atkins Parkway | 43.7 mi | 46m |
| Lanier Parkway | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Cornelia Highway | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| Northeast Expressway | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Tommy Irwin Parkway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Connector | 5.1 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 5m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 290 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~6,362 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~779 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Columbus, GA and Clarkesville, 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 North
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 185
44 mi
·
46 min
·
Chet Atkins Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 85
59 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 75; I 85
5.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Exit 251B
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 85
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 85
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 985
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Lanier Parkway
Exit 113
Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on US 23; GA 365
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Cornelia Highway
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on US 23; GA 365
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Tommy Irwin Parkway
18
Merge onto US 23; US 441; GA 15; GA 365
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 23; US 441; GA 15; GA 365
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 441 Bussines, GA 105, GA 382 North: Clarkesville, Demorest, Cornelia
20
At end of road, turn left onto US 441 Business; GA 105; GA 385
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 441 Business; GA 105; GA 385
21
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 385
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 441 Business; GA 385
22
Continue on US 441 Business; 385
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Central Avenue
23
Continue on US 441 Business; 385
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
441 Historic Highway
24
Continue on US 441 Business; GA 385
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
West Louise Drive
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 441 Business; GA 385
502 ft
·
10 sec
·
West Louise Street
26
Turn straight onto US 441 Business; GA 17; GA 197; GA 385
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
27
Turn left onto West Franklin Street
248 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Franklin Street
28
Turn right onto Madison Street
100 ft
·
4 sec
·
Madison Street
29
Arrive at destination
Madison Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 40m drive, departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Clarkesville, GA, even with a brief stop. The route's single recommended stop is a good point to stretch your legs or refuel if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 58.8-mile stretch on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, to ensure you're prepared. With a total estimated fuel cost of $29, planning ahead for gas is straightforward. This drive is well within the scope of a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time.
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 95.6 miles from Columbus, GA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.8 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 42 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.6 miles or 1h 47m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarkesville, 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 191.3 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 58.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.6 miles from Columbus, 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Georgia Visitor Information Center - Columbus
0.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 139.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
6
111.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway toward I 85 North: Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 251B
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
6
114 mi into trip
|
~2h 9m in
|
I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
139.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 38m in
|
I 985 / Lanier Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 985 / Lanier Parkway toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 113
Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.90 one way
$59.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.35 | $32.75 | $65.49 |
| premium | $4.72 | $35.55 | $71.10 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $47.27 | $94.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.09 | $9.18 |
| Efficient EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.74 | $7.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.5 | 0 | $26.78 | $12.24 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Columbus, GA
Morning in Columbus on Saturday
Local time
8:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Sunny
NE 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 9:56AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 19 at 9:33AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Clarkesville, GA
Morning in Clarkesville on Saturday
Local time
8:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Sunny
ENE 3 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 9:56AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 19 at 9:33AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
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
3 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 40m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 105.5
View on nps.gov
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,...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
$5
near mile 125.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 56% of this drive is on highways, with the longest continuous highway segment being 58.8 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. You'll experience a mixed profile, transitioning from more developed highway sections with frequent exits to stretches of surface roads. Expect to notice areas with denser traffic as you navigate between highway and surface road segments. This blend means you'll have opportunities for both faster travel and more local driving.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.8 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 191.3 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 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; at 111.3 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,366 ft
239 ft
Total Climb
1,321 ft
Total Descent
195 ft
Highest Point
1,366 ft
~191.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,126 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Columbus, GA
Full guide →Founded 1828
Columbus is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland, near the Chattahoochee River and bordering Alabama. It is known for its Southern hospitality, unique attractions, and proximity to Fort Benning.
Top landmarks
- • Springer Opera House — theater in Columbus, Georgia, United States
- • Trinity Episcopal Church — church building in Columbus, United States of America
- • Wynnwood — historic house in Columbus, Georgia, United States
Arriving in Clarkesville, GA
Full guide →Founded 1821
Top landmarks
- • Mauldin House Welcome Center — historic house and welcome center in Clarkesville, Georgia, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 191.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.8 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Clarkesville, 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 111.3 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarkesville, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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