Traveling from Oakwood to Augusta covers 123.1 miles across Georgia, making for a straightforward trek that fits perfectly into a single day. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes, allowing for a relaxed pace without the need for an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of around $20, this trip remains an affordable option for those navigating the Southeast. Since the route utilizes local roads like the Covington Bypass, it offers a distinct alternative to major interstate travel. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct path keeps your transit time efficient and predictable.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.5 miles from Oakwood, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
84.9 mi
1h 30m
Purple Heart Highway
20.3 mi
21m
Covington Bypass Road
3.6 mi
5m
Highway 81 South
2.7 mi
4m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
2.5 mi
4m
Washington Road
2.4 mi
4m
Oak Hill Road
1.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakwood, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on Smith Store Road
76 ft·7 sec·Smith Store Road
2
Turn left onto Oak Hill Road
1.8 mi·4 min·Oak Hill Road
3
Turn slight left onto GA 81
1.4 mi·2 min·Highway 81 South
4
Enter roundabout onto Highway 81 South
150 ft·5 sec·Highway 81 South
5
Continue on Highway 81 South
1.2 mi·1 min·Highway 81 South
6
Continue on GA 81
366 ft·9 sec·South Broad Street
7
Turn right onto Covington Bypass Road
3.6 mi·5 min·Covington Bypass Road
8
Continue on GA 36
2.5 mi·4 min·Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on GA 142
1.0 mi·1 min·John R. Williams Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 20 East: AugustaUse the right lane.
11
Merge onto I 20
20 mi·21 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 20
85 mi·1 hr 30 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
14
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
15
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
16
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
17
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
18
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
19
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
20
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time to avoid local traffic patterns. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, as the 2-hour and 22-minute duration is easily manageable in one go. If you are sensitive to winding roads, keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of this route makes it a more active drive than a standard highway cruise. Ensure your gas tank is prepared for the $20 fuel expense before leaving Oakwood to keep your trip seamless. Prioritizing a clear schedule for the 123.1-mile journey will help you arrive in Augusta feeling refreshed and ready for your next move.
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 61.5 miles from Oakwood, GA, or about 1h 13m 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 13m 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 55m
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 Oakwood, 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 Oakwood, GA
This is one driving day of about 123.1 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Oakwood, 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Oak Hill Road
Turn left onto Oak Hill Road
Navigation decision point
7
11.6 mi into trip|~19m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
5
11.9 mi into trip|~20m in|I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
5
117.4 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.25 one way
$38.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.05
$42.10
premium
$4.70
$22.78
$45.57
diesel
$5.61
$27.18
$54.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.93
$5.91
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.23
$7.88
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Oakwood, GA
Late night
in Oakwood on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Late night
in Augusta on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Union Point, GA
62 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
31 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 22m 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through the state. With only 4% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time on secondary roads rather than monotonous stretches of interstate. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Carl Sanders Highway, which spans 84.9 miles of the journey. As you transition between the Carl Sanders Highway, the Purple Heart Highway, and the Covington Bypass Road, the road’s personality shifts from highway speeds to more technical driving. Be prepared for a hands-on experience behind the wheel that favors local infrastructure over high-speed transit.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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 early in the drive near Oak Hill Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 22m 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: near the start (Oak Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (I 20 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
745 ft140 ft
Total Climb
202 ft
Total Descent
807 ft
Highest Point
745 ft
Elevation Range
605 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 123.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
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: near the start (Oak Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.9 miles (I 20 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. 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 Augusta, GA before heading back.
