Skip to main content

Trip from McRae, GA to Albany, 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 12m

Distance

93.9 mi

151 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 3m ★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 31m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 17m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 30m
8 PM
2h 7m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown McRae, GA, GA

McRae, GA

𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓮 𝓦𝓮𝓼𝓽 ™

city in and county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States

Albany, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

McRae, GA to Albany, GA is 93.9 miles and takes about 2h 12m via US 280, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. It's a quick hop, perfect for a single-day trip, with most of your journey on well-maintained highways. You’ll find this route generally easy to navigate, making it a practical choice if you’re looking for a simple, efficient transfer between these two locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46.9 miles from McRae, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 280 48.6 mi 1h 11m
GA 300 34.2 mi 42m
Old Hatley Road 3.2 mi 4m
East Oglethorpe Boulevard 2.9 mi 4m
Penia Road South 1.9 mi 2m
South 3rd Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Pine Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
East Broad Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 280 — 48.6 mi, about 1h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between McRae, GA and Albany, GA.

1

Start on US 23; US 341; GA 27

336 ft · 10 sec · East Oak Street
2

Turn right onto South 2nd Avenue

262 ft · 13 sec · South 2nd Avenue
3

Turn right onto Pine Street

418 ft · 23 sec · Pine Street
4

Turn left onto US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31

1.3 mi · 2 min · South 3rd Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Take the exit onto US 280; GA 30

49 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 280; GA 30
6

Turn left onto Penia Road South

1.9 mi · 2 min · Penia Road South
7

Turn right onto Old Hatley Road

3.2 mi · 4 min · Old Hatley Road
8

Turn slight left onto GA 300

34 mi · 42 min · GA 300
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on Cordele Road

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Cordele Road
Use the straight lane.
10

Turn right onto Old Cordele Road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Old Cordele Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

Turn straight onto US 82 Business; GA 520 Business

449 ft · 10 sec · Sylvester Highway
12

Continue on US 82 Business; GA 520 Business

2.9 mi · 4 min · East Oglethorpe Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13

Turn right onto South Broadway Street

365 ft · 16 sec · South Broadway Street
Use the right lane.
14

Turn left onto East Broad Avenue

0.4 mi · 46 sec · East Broad Avenue
Use the left lane.
15

Turn right onto North Front Street

510 ft · 12 sec · North Front Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16

Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue

110 ft · 2 sec · Pine Avenue
17

Continue on Pine Avenue

0.4 mi · 44 sec · Pine Avenue
18

Arrive at destination

Pine Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short 2h 12m duration, you can easily tackle this trip in a single day, leaving flexibility for departure time. Aim to leave McRae in the morning to maximize daylight and potential stops, though with only 93.9 miles, you’ll have plenty of time. The longest stretch without a break is 48.6 miles on US 280, so consider a quick pit stop before or after that segment if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $15, and plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially if you plan to drive during off-peak hours.

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 46.9 miles from McRae, GA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.6 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 21 miles or 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46.9 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 49m

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 McRae, 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 McRae, GA

This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 2h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from McRae, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 280 for about 48.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

county seat in Crisp County, Georgia, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cordele, GA

47 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

Abbeville, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rochelle, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46.9 miles from McRae, 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 93.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | South 2nd Avenue

Turn right onto South 2nd Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Pine Street

Turn right onto Pine Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue

Turn left onto US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
89.7 mi into trip | ~2h 5m in | Old Cordele Road

Turn right onto Old Cordele Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
93.5 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | Pine Avenue

Enter roundabout onto Pine Avenue

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.68 one way

$29.37 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $16.06 $32.11
premium $4.70 $17.38 $34.76
diesel $5.61 $20.73 $41.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.2 0 $9.86 $4.51
Efficient EV 23.5 0 $8.22 $3.76
EV Truck/SUV 37.6 0 $13.15 $6.01

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

McRae, GA

Late night in McRae on Sunday

Local time

2:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Albany, GA

Late night in Albany on Sunday

Local time

2:00 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

25 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 12m 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 is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a highway-centric journey for the most part, including a continuous stretch of 48.6 miles on US 280. While primarily on main roads like US 280 and GA 300, there are brief transitions onto local routes like Old Hatley Road. Expect a consistent pace for much of the trip, with opportunities to make good time.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.6 mi on US 280.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 280 and GA 300. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South 2nd Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 93.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (South 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Pine Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Albany, GA

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 48.6 miles on US 280. 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 0.1 miles (South 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Pine Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 280; US 319; US 441; GA 30; GA 31 / South 3rd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albany, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from McRae, GA or browse trips ending in Albany, GA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.