Franklin Springs, GA to Augusta, GA is 105.4 miles and takes about 2h 14m via Carl Sanders Highway and US 78, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, taking you through the Southeast region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns rather than long, monotonous highway stretches. It's a manageable distance for a single day trip, making it ideal for a casual weekend excursion or a quick weekday relocation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.7 miles from Franklin Springs, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
26.6 mi
28m
US 78
22.5 mi
27m
Bowman Highway
9.7 mi
11m
Washington Highway
9.6 mi
13m
Tignall Road
8.4 mi
12m
Elberton Highway
6.8 mi
9m
Church Street
6.5 mi
7m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 26.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin Springs, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on East Main Street
56 ft·3 sec·East Main Street
2
Continue on US 29; GA 8
0.9 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Continue on US 29; GA 8
0.4 mi·37 sec·Franklin Springs Street
4
Turn right onto Cook Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Cook Street
5
Turn right onto GA 17 Business
6.5 mi·7 min·Church Street
6
Continue on GA 17
1.8 mi·2 min·West Railroad Street
7
Continue on GA 17
9.7 mi·11 min·Bowman Highway
8
Turn right onto GA 72
528 ft·6 sec·Athens Highway
9
Continue on SR 17; SR 72
1.2 mi·1 min·College Avenue
10
Continue on GA 17; GA 72
0.7 mi·47 sec·Elbert Street
11
Continue on GA 17; GA 72
0.1 mi·7 sec·Heard Street
12
Continue on GA 17; GA 72
1.3 mi·2 min·Elbert Street
13
Continue on GA 17
9.6 mi·13 min·Washington Highway
14
Continue on GA 17
6.8 mi·9 min·Elberton Highway
15
Continue on GA 17
1.8 mi·2 min·North Hulin Avenue
16
Continue on GA 17
7.4 mi·10 min·Tignall Road
17
Continue on GA 17 BUS
0.9 mi·1 min·Tignall Road
18
Turn left onto US 78; GA 10
0.6 mi·42 sec·US 78; GA 10
19
Turn right onto US 78; GA 10; GA 17
22 mi·27 min·US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I-20 East: AugustaUse the left lane.
21
Merge onto I 20
27 mi·28 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
23
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
24
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
25
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
26
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
27
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
28
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
29
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 14m duration, departing Franklin Springs in the morning allows ample time to reach Augusta without feeling rushed. While this is a single-day trip, you might consider a brief stop in a small town along US 78 for a quick stretch or refreshment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $16 estimated cost suggests no extensive refueling stops will be necessary, but it's always wise to top off before heading out, especially on routes with less frequent services. The turn-heavy nature means paying close attention to signage is key to staying on track.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.7 miles from Franklin Springs, GA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.7 miles or 1h 11m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Augusta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Franklin Springs, 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 Franklin Springs, GA
This is one driving day of about 105.4 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Franklin Springs, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Carl Sanders Highway for about 26.6 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 50.6 and 99.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
50.6 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Turn right onto US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-20 East: Augusta
5
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 36m in|I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
99.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
5
99.8 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.48 one way
$32.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.02
$36.04
premium
$4.70
$19.51
$39.01
diesel
$5.61
$23.27
$46.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.6
0
$11.07
$5.06
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.22
$4.22
EV Truck/SUV
42.2
0
$14.76
$6.75
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Franklin Springs, GA
Morning
in Franklin Springs on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Morning
in Augusta on Sunday
Local time
10:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Washington, GA
53 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
33 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 14m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 24% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a varied road personality, shifting between the Carl Sanders Highway, Bowman Highway, and US 78. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 26.6 miles on Carl Sanders Highway, giving you a taste of more consistent travel before navigating local roads. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to navigation and road changes.
Only 24% 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: 26.6 mi on Carl Sanders Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 50.6 miles in near US 78; GA 10; GA 17.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 105.4 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 50.6 miles (US 78; GA 10; GA 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 105.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (24%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on Carl Sanders Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 50.6 miles (US 78; GA 10; GA 17): Lane positioning matters here; at 72.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 72.9 miles (I 20 / Carl Sanders Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Augusta, GA before heading back.
