Spanning 114.4 miles across Southeast Georgia, this trek from Monticello to Augusta is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete. Because of the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You should budget roughly $18 for fuel to cover the distance between these two points. Navigating the route involves transitioning from local streets like Madison Street and Madison Road onto I-20 East. Whether you are heading to Augusta for business or a quick getaway, the trip offers a reliable connection through the heart of the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.2 miles from Monticello, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
84.9 mi
1h 30m
GA 83
19.3 mi
26m
Madison Street
2.8 mi
4m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Washington Road
2.4 mi
4m
Purple Heart Highway
0.8 mi
<1m
11th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Madison Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on GA 83
0.1 mi·22 sec·North Warren Street
2
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi·50 sec·Madison Street
3
Continue on GA 83
0.2 mi·16 sec·Madison Road
4
Continue on GA 83
2.4 mi·3 min·Madison Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 83
19 mi·26 min·GA 83
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I-20 East: AugustaUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 20
0.8 mi·51 sec·Purple Heart Highway
8
Continue on I 20
85 mi·1 hr 30 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
10
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
11
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
12
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
13
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
14
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
15
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
16
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, plan your departure to avoid peak local traffic, as the technical nature of the road requires your full focus. Since the drive is short, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it suits your schedule, though aiming for mid-morning or mid-afternoon helps you avoid congestion. There are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 114.4-mile span, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Monticello to ensure you are comfortable with the $18 estimated cost. As you navigate the turn-heavy sections, pay close attention to signage on Madison Street and Madison Road to stay on track. This direct route is best handled in one go, allowing you to reach your destination in Augusta with plenty of time to spare.
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 57.2 miles from Monticello, GA, or about 1h 9m 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.2 miles or 1h 9m 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 48m
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 Monticello, 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 Monticello, GA
This is one driving day of about 114.5 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Monticello, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 114.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.1 mi into trip|~4m in|GA 83
Keep slight left at fork onto GA 83
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
22.5 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I-20 East: Augusta
5
108.5 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
5
108.8 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
114.1 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|11th Street
Turn right onto 11th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.91 one way
$35.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.58
$39.16
premium
$4.70
$21.19
$42.38
diesel
$5.61
$25.28
$50.56
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.02
$5.50
Efficient EV
28.6
0
$10.02
$4.58
EV Truck/SUV
45.8
0
$16.03
$7.33
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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 20, 2026
Origin
Monticello, GA
Late night
in Monticello on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Late night
in Augusta on Tuesday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Union Point, GA
57 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
4 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 13m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition out of Monticello and eventually merge onto the interstate. The route lacks long, monotonous highway stretches, with the longest uninterrupted segment occurring on Madison Street. Because this path prioritizes local roads over high-speed highway travel, you will need to remain attentive to frequent turns and changes in road type. The character of the drive is defined by these technical, local transitions rather than a high-speed interstate grind. Adjust your driving style to account for the winding nature of the initial departure before you settle into the final leg of the journey.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 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?
3/10
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 3.1 miles in near GA 83.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 13m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (GA 83): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 22.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 108.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Augusta is a city in Georgia's Classic Heartland. Due to its location inland on the Savannah River, Augusta was a city of major strategic importance by the end of the Civil War. It was spared most of the destruction of many other southern cities, so there are many old buildings and landmarks. Augusta is also home to the Augusta National Golf Club, one of the world's most prestigious and exclusive golf clubs, which plays host to the Masters golf tournament.
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 3.1 miles (GA 83): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 22.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 108.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Augusta, GA before heading back.
