Traveling from the coast to Southwest Georgia, this 176.3-mile trip connects Darien to Albany in about 3 hours and 56 minutes. Since the entire journey stays within the state of Georgia, you will experience a steady transition across the Southeast region. Budgeting approximately $28 for fuel makes this a cost-effective excursion that is easily manageable as a single-day trip. While you only need one planned stop to break up the drive, the route is straightforward enough to complete without an overnight stay. Whether you are heading inland for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable, direct path across the state.
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
88.2 miles from Darien, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 82
129.5 mi
2h 49m
GA 99
9.9 mi
13m
Grants Ferry Road
6.7 mi
9m
Albany Highway
6.6 mi
7m
South Georgia Parkway
5.6 mi
6m
North Walton Street
4.8 mi
6m
Sylvester Highway
4.1 mi
6m
Carswell Avenue
3.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 82
— 129.5 mi, about 2h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Darien, GA and Albany, GA.
1
Start on this road
63 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 17; GA 25; 99
4.8 mi·6 min·North Walton Street
3
Turn right onto SR 99
0.5 mi·52 sec·Grants Ferry Road
4
Continue on GA 99
0.2 mi·19 sec·GA 99
5
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
106 ft·3 sec·GA 99
6
Continue on GA 99
0.3 mi·23 sec·GA 99
7
Enter roundabout
91 ft·1 sec
8
Continue
0.2 mi·13 sec
9
Continue on GA 99
0.2 mi·13 sec·GA 99
10
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
126 ft·4 sec·GA 99
11
Continue on GA 99
2.4 mi·3 min·GA 99
12
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
94 ft·1 sec·Grants Ferry Road
13
Continue on GA 99
6.2 mi·8 min·Grants Ferry Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn slight left onto GA 99
6.9 mi·9 min·GA 99
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto US 82; GA 520
11 mi·15 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.8 mi·5 min·US 82; GA 520
17
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.6 mi·7 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on US 82; GA 520
19 mi·24 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto US 1 Business
1.2 mi·1 min·Memorial Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on Carswell Avenue
3.7 mi·6 min·Carswell Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 1; US 23; US 82; GA 4; GA 520
5.6 mi·6 min·South Georgia Parkway
22
Continue on US 82; GA 520
6.6 mi·7 min·Albany Highway
23
Continue on US 82; GA 520
3.4 mi·3 min·US 82; GA 520
24
Continue on US 82; GA 520
5.1 mi·6 min·US 82; GA 520
25
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.6 mi·5 min·US 82; GA 520
26
Continue on US 82; GA 520
4.5 mi·6 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 82; GA 520
21 mi·24 min·US 82; GA 520
28
Continue on US 82; GA 520
0.7 mi·1 min·US 82; GA 520
29
Continue on US 82; US 129; GA 11; GA 520
1.1 mi·1 min·US 82; US 129; GA 11; GA 520
30
Continue on US 82; GA 520
15 mi·18 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on US 82; US 319; GA 35; GA 520
2.8 mi·5 min·US 82; US 319; GA 35; GA 520
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on US 82; GA 520
32 mi·43 min·US 82; GA 520
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
4.1 mi·6 min·Sylvester Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business
2.9 mi·4 min·East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
365 ft·16 sec·South Broadway Street
Use the right lane.
36
Turn left onto East Broad Avenue
0.4 mi·46 sec·East Broad Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto North Front Street
510 ft·12 sec·North Front Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
110 ft·2 sec·Pine Avenue
39
Continue on Pine Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Pine Avenue
40
Arrive at destination
Pine Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 176.3-mile journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid midday traffic fluctuations. Since the drive takes just under four hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your single required stop whenever you feel the need for a quick stretch or a snack. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before committing to that long 129.5-mile stretch on US 82, as steady highway speeds can impact your consumption. Since this is a one-day trip, utilize that flexibility to time your arrival in Albany for the late afternoon. Staying aware of the transition between GA 99 and the primary highway network will help you navigate the route with ease.
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 88.2 miles from Darien, GA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 129.5 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.2 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 10m
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 Darien, 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 Darien, GA
This is one driving day of about 176.3 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Darien, 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 US 82 for about 129.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 175.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.6 mi into trip|~8m in|GA 99
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
5.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
6.3 mi into trip|~9m in|GA 99
Enter roundabout onto GA 99
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
61.4 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|US 1 Business / Memorial Drive
Turn right onto US 1 Business / Memorial Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
175.9 mi into trip|~3h 55m in|Pine Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.57 one way
$55.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.14
$60.29
premium
$4.70
$32.63
$65.26
diesel
$5.61
$38.92
$77.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.9
0
$18.51
$8.46
Efficient EV
44.1
0
$15.43
$7.05
EV Truck/SUV
70.5
0
$24.68
$11.28
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
Darien, GA
Late night
in Darien on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Albany, GA
Late night
in Albany on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fort Frederica National Monument
National Monument
War was imminent as James Oglethorpe established Fort Frederica in 1736, to help protect the British colonies from the Spanish in Florida. Fort Frederica illustrates the story of the War of Jenkins Ea...
St Marys is the gateway to Cumberland Island, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island. Here pristine maritime forests, undeveloped beaches and wide marshes whisper the stories of both man an...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
$15
near mile 18.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 82% of your time spent on major routes like US 82, GA 99, and Grants Ferry Road. You should prepare for a consistent rhythm behind the wheel, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 129.5 miles on US 82. The road personality remains functional and efficient, favoring steady cruising over technical maneuvers or winding backroads. While you will encounter a mix of thoroughfares, the transition from local roads to primary highways keeps the pace predictable. Expect a straightforward experience that prioritizes reaching your destination steadily rather than through diverse terrain changes.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 129.5 mi on US 82.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 82 and GA 99. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near GA 99.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (GA 99): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.3 miles (GA 99): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
The longest stretch is about 129.5 miles on US 82. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.6 miles (GA 99): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.3 miles (GA 99): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes — Fort Frederica National Monument and Cumberland Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Albany, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
