Hawkinsville to Columbus is 105.5 miles and takes about 2h 18m via GA 96 and US 80, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip connecting two points within Georgia's Southeast region. Expect a drive that's primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a practical choice for a quick journey. Given its relatively short duration, you'll likely find yourself arriving with plenty of time to settle in or continue your day. Consider this route if you need an efficient way to travel between these two cities without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.8 miles from Hawkinsville, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
GA 96
39.2 mi
46m
US 80
18.2 mi
21m
Sam Nunn Boulevard
9.7 mi
13m
GA 22 Spur
9.7 mi
15m
Larry Walker Parkway
8.7 mi
10m
Perry Highway
5.5 mi
6m
Main Street
4.6 mi
5m
Orange Street
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
GA 96
— 39.2 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hawkinsville, GA and Columbus, GA.
1
Start on this road
312 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn straight onto US 129 Business; US 341 Business; GA 11 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Progress Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 129; US 341; GA 11
1.2 mi·1 min·341 Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on US 341; GA 11
5.5 mi·6 min·Perry Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 341; GA 11
4.6 mi·5 min·Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Continue on US 341; GA 11
0.2 mi·17 sec·Golden Isles Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on GA 224
8.7 mi·10 min·Larry Walker Parkway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 41; GA 7; GA 127; GA 224
0.2 mi·19 sec·Marshallville Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward I-75 North: MaconUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 75
1.3 mi·1 min·I 75
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 136Toward GA 7: Perry, Fort ValleyUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto GA 7
9.7 mi·13 min·Sam Nunn Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 341; GA 7
1.0 mi·1 min·Martin Luther King Junior Drive
14
Turn right onto US 341; GA 7
0.5 mi·1 min·Oakland Heights Parkway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto US 341; GA 7; GA 96
120 ft·3 sec·Oakland Heights Parkway
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto GA 96
0.6 mi·1 min·Vineville Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Continue on GA 96
2.7 mi·4 min·Orange Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto GA 96; GA 540
39 mi·46 min·GA 96; GA 540
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 80; GA 22; GA 41; GA 540
0.8 mi·1 min·US 80; GA 22; GA 41; GA 540
20
Continue on US 80; GA 22; GA 540
17 mi·20 min·US 80; GA 22; GA 540
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on US 80; GA 22; GA 540
0.1 mi·17 sec·Beaver Run Road
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn left onto GA 22 Spur
9.7 mi·15 min·GA 22 Spur
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn sharp left onto 10th Avenue
404 ft·12 sec·10th Avenue
24
Turn right onto 10th Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·10th Street
25
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
0.3 mi·43 sec·Veterans Parkway
26
Arrive at destination
US 27; GA 1
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 18m drive time, departing Hawkinsville in the morning will comfortably get you to Columbus well before midday, leaving your afternoon open. You won't need extensive breaks, but the longest stretch is 39.2 miles, so plan a quick stop around then if needed. Fuel costs are estimated at $17, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave Hawkinsville, as you'll want to keep momentum on this highway-centric route. This is a single-day trip, so you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience.
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 52.8 miles from Hawkinsville, GA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.2 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 52.8 miles or 1h 10m 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 Columbus, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hawkinsville, 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 Hawkinsville, GA
This is one driving day of about 105.5 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hawkinsville, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on GA 96 for about 39.2 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 21.2 and 95 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
21.2 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I-75 North: Macon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-75 North: Macon
8
22.8 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward GA 7: Perry, Fort Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 136
Toward GA 7: Perry, Fort Valley
6
34.2 mi into trip|~46m in|US 341; GA 7; GA 96 / Oakland Heights Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 341; GA 7; GA 96 / Oakland Heights Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
37.5 mi into trip|~52m in|GA 96; GA 540
At end of road, turn left onto GA 96; GA 540
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
95 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|GA 22 Spur
Turn left onto GA 22 Spur
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.50 one way
$33.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.04
$36.08
premium
$4.70
$19.53
$39.05
diesel
$5.61
$23.29
$46.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
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
31.7
0
$11.08
$5.06
Efficient EV
26.4
0
$9.23
$4.22
EV Truck/SUV
42.2
0
$14.77
$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 17, 2026
Origin
Hawkinsville, GA
Morning
in Hawkinsville on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 1:44AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 1:32AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Destination
Columbus, GA
Morning
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Butler, 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
36 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
2h 18m 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.
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 32.7
Caution: River Trail periodically closed under I-16
Park Closure: BOARDWALK CLOSED along the River Trail
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily focused on highway travel, with 74% of the route utilizing main roads like GA 96 and US 80, including Sam Nunn Boulevard. You'll experience a consistent pace for much of the journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 39.2 miles on GA 96. The profile suggests a highway-focused experience, meaning you can anticipate relatively consistent speeds and road conditions for the majority of the trip. While not a winding scenic byway, it offers a predictable and efficient path between your starting and ending points.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.2 mi on GA 96.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on GA 96 and US 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 21.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 105.5 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 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.2 miles (US 341; GA 7; GA 96 / Oakland Heights Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hawkinsville, GA to Columbus, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Valley along the way.
Fort Valley
22.8 mi in|~29m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 105.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.2 miles on GA 96. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Columbus, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.2 miles (US 341; GA 7; GA 96 / Oakland Heights Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ocmulgee Mounds 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 Columbus, GA before heading back.
