Origin
Jonesboro, GA
Morning in Jonesboro on Sunday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jonesboro, GA to California, 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 3m
Distance
44.4 mi
71 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 14m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jonesboro, GA
Kelly
California, GA
Lesli Whitecotton
Trip Overview
Jonesboro, GA to California, GA is 44.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, entirely within Georgia. It's a relatively short drive, ideal for a single day. Expect a mix of driving conditions as you navigate different road types. This route is straightforward and doesn't require extensive planning, making it a convenient option for a quick journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 12.8 mi | 14m |
| C H James Parkway | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Tom Murphy Freeway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Thornton Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Riverdale Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| GA 138 | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Hiram Acworth Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| State Route 85 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
— 12.8 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jonesboro, GA and California, GA.
1
Start on Courthouse Way
201 ft
·
11 sec
·
Courthouse Way
2
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
3
Turn left onto North Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Avenue
4
Continue on GA 138
2.5 mi
·
2 min
·
GA 138
5
Continue on GA 85
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 85
Use the right lane.
6
Turn left onto GA 139
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn right onto GA 139
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on GA 139
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverdale Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 285 West
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 285
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 10B
Toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingham
Use the slight left lane.
12
Merge onto I 20
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto GA 6
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
C H James Parkway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on US 278; GA 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto GA 92
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
20
Arrive at destination
GA 92
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.2 miles from Jonesboro, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 29.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
GA 139 / Main Street
Turn left onto GA 139 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
9.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward I 285 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 West
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingham
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 10B
Toward I 20 West: Tom Murphy Freeway, Birmingha...
8
29.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
7
29.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.94 one way
$13.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.59 | $15.18 |
| premium | $4.70 | $8.22 | $16.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.80 | $19.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.22 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
California, GA
Morning in California on Sunday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
College Park, GA
22 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 3m 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 features a mixed profile, with 43% of it being highway driving. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.8 miles on this road. The route incorporates C H James Parkway and Tom Murphy Freeway, suggesting a blend of faster-paced highway travel and potentially some more urban or suburban road segments. The character of the drive changes as you transition between these different roadways.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near GA 139 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.4 miles you will encounter 13 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 6 miles (GA 139 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jonesboro, GA and California, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Austell.
Birmingham
22.9 mi in
|
~31m
Austell
29.5 mi in
|
~40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 3m. Total distance: 44.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. 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 California, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (GA 139 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. 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 California, 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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