Origin
Columbus, GA
Late night in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbus, GA to Dawson, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
62.1 mi
100 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dawson, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Columbus, GA to Dawson, GA is 62.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via US 280, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip connecting two points within Georgia's Southeast region. You'll primarily be on US 280, with some sections on Victory Drive and Wall Street. Given its short duration and modest fuel cost, this drive is ideal for a quick transfer or a relaxed exploration of the immediate area. Consider this route if you're looking for efficiency and simplicity in your travel plans.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 18.6 mi | 21m |
| Victory Drive | 16.3 mi | 24m |
| Wall Street | 16 mi | 19m |
| Columbus Highway | 8 mi | 9m |
| North Parrott Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Veterans Parkway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 280
— 18.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, GA and Dawson, GA.
1
Start on US 27; GA 1
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Parkway
2
Turn left onto US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street
3
Continue on US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
16 mi
·
24 min
·
Victory Drive
4
Continue on US 280; GA 520
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 280; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 280; GA 520
15 mi
·
17 min
·
US 280; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on GA 520
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Wall Street
7
Continue on GA 520
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Parrott Street
8
Continue on GA 520
8.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Columbus Highway
9
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Drive
10
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Roundtree Drive
11
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Vine Street Northwest
12
Arrive at destination
GA 45; GA 520
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.71 one way
$19.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.49 | $22.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.71 | $27.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.8 | 0 | $8.69 | $3.97 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Dawson, GA
Late night in Dawson on Sunday
Local time
2:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 19m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed bag of road types, with 31% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 280, which can feel like a typical highway, interspersed with local roads like Victory Drive and Wall Street. The longest continuous segment you'll navigate is 18.6 miles on US 280, providing a good amount of steady driving. Expect the scenery to shift from more urban or suburban environments near Columbus to a more rural feel as you approach Dawson. It's a route that doesn't demand intense focus, allowing for a comfortable pace.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on US 280.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Columbus, GA to Dawson, GA is easy. At 1h 19m with 31% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbus, GA to Dawson, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 62.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on US 280. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbus, GA to Dawson, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes — Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dawson, GA before heading back.
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.
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