Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 3m
Distance
95.8 mi
154 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbus, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Putney, GA
ready made
The drive from Columbus, GA to Putney, GA covers 95.8 miles and takes about 2h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 280, Liberty Expressway, Victory Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.6 miles on US 280. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.9 miles from Columbus, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 280 | 18.6 mi | 21m |
| Liberty Expressway | 16.9 mi | 21m |
| Victory Drive | 16.3 mi | 24m |
| Wall Street | 16 mi | 19m |
| Albany Highway | 14.2 mi | 17m |
| Columbus Highway | 8 mi | 9m |
| Forrester Drive Southeast | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| North Parrott Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Columbus, GA and Putney, GA.
Start on US 27; GA 1
Turn left onto US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
Continue on US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
Continue on US 280; GA 520
Continue on US 280; GA 520
Continue on GA 520
Continue on GA 520
Continue on GA 520
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
Continue on GA 45; GA 520
Continue on US 82; GA 520
Continue on US 82; GA 520
Turn straight onto US 82; GA 520
Continue on US 82; GA 520
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; GA 520
Take the exit onto US 19; GA 3; GA 300
Continue on US 19; GA 3; GA 300
Arrive at destination
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.
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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.9 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Putney, GA than in the middle of the route.
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 95.8 miles and 2h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47.9 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.
2 decision points cluster between mile 78.9 and 91.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway toward US 82 East, GA 520 East: Tifton, Camilla
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 19; GA 3; GA 300 / Liberty Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.68 one way
$29.36 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $16.11 | $32.22 |
| premium | $4.64 | $17.49 | $34.98 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.12 | $42.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.7 | 0 | $10.06 | $4.60 |
| Efficient EV | 24 | 0 | $8.38 | $3.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.3 | 0 | $13.41 | $6.13 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Columbus on Friday
Local time
12:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Putney on Friday
Local time
12:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
92°F
Richland, GA
48 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influenc...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
95.8 mi in 2h 3m — 38% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 280.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 78.9 miles in near US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 3m drive. You will face about 2 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 78.9 miles (US 82; GA 520 / Liberty Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 91.9 miles (US 19; GA 3; GA 300 / Liberty Expressway): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
436 ft
Total Descent
477 ft
Highest Point
670 ft
~27.4 mi in
Elevation Range
477 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Columbus, GA to Putney, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Camilla along the way.
Camilla
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 3m. Total distance: 95.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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