Origin
Lithonia, GA
Late night in Lithonia on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lithonia, GA to Augusta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
130.3 mi
210 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lithonia, GA
Joshua Brown
Augusta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lithonia to Augusta is 130.3 miles and takes about 2 hours 25 minutes via Carl Sanders Highway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns and local road sections mixed with highway driving. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that shouldn't require an overnight stop, making it convenient for a quick getaway or a transit day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
65.2 miles from Lithonia, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Carl Sanders Highway | 84.9 mi | 1h 30m |
| Purple Heart Highway | 37.5 mi | 40m |
| Calhoun Expressway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Washington Road | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Conyers Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| US 278 | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 11th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Turner Hill Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lithonia, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on Rock Chapel Road
57 ft
·
6 sec
·
Rock Chapel Road
2
Turn left onto Conyers Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Conyers Street
3
Turn right onto GA 124
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Turner Hill Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto US 278; GA 12
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 278; GA 12
Toward I 20 East, US 278 East: Augusta
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12
38 mi
·
40 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 20
85 mi
·
1 hr 30 min
·
Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
8
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft
·
11 sec
9
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Road
10
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Calhoun Expressway
11
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Greene Street
12
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
11th Street
13
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft
·
3 sec
·
Walton Way
14
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 25 minutes, this route is best tackled in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aiming to leave Lithonia in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Augusta without feeling rushed. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the numerous turns indicated by the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile; planning your route in advance using GPS will be key to a smooth journey.
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 65.2 miles from Lithonia, GA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 29 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.2 miles or 1h 12m 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 57m
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 Lithonia, 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 Lithonia, GA
This is one driving day of about 130.3 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Lithonia, 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 84.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.2 miles from Lithonia, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Carl Sanders Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 124.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
GA 124 / Turner Hill Road
Turn right onto GA 124 / Turner Hill Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 278; GA 12
Turn left onto US 278; GA 12 toward I 20 East, US 278 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East, US 278 East: Augusta
5
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
124.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
5
124.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.38 one way
$40.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $22.28 | $44.56 |
| premium | $4.70 | $24.12 | $48.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.77 | $57.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.68 | $6.25 |
| Efficient EV | 32.6 | 0 | $11.40 | $5.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.1 | 0 | $18.24 | $8.34 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Augusta, GA
Late night in Augusta on Sunday
Local time
12:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Union Point, GA
65 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
32 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 25m 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.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
$5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is characterized by its turn-heavy local drive profile, meaning you'll navigate a good number of intersections and changes in direction. While the highway share is moderate at 2, the majority of your travel will likely feel more like a local expedition than a pure interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 84.9 miles on the Carl Sanders Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before you transition back to more varied road conditions. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with frequent adjustments.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.9 mi on Carl Sanders Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near GA 124 / Turner Hill Road.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (GA 124 / Turner Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (US 278; GA 12): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart 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 25m. Total distance: 130.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.9 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 1.2 miles (GA 124 / Turner Hill Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (US 278; GA 12): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Augusta, 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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