Origin
Oakwood, GA
Morning in Oakwood on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oakwood, 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 22m
Distance
61 mi
98 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oakwood, GA
Wikimedia Commons
California, GA
Lesli Whitecotton
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Oakwood to California, Georgia, you are looking at a manageable 61-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. This route is well-suited for a quick day trip, as it does not require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. Budgeting around $10 for fuel should be sufficient to cover the distance given typical vehicle consumption. Both origin and destination are located within the Southeast, keeping the travel environment consistent throughout your drive. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward connection through the region offers a reliable travel plan without the need for complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Ralph David Abernathy Freeway | 22.8 mi | 27m |
| Purple Heart Highway | 16.7 mi | 18m |
| C H James Parkway | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Salem Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Thornton Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Hiram Acworth Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Smith Store Road | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Wendy Bagwell Parkway | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
— 22.8 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakwood, GA and California, GA.
1
Start on Smith Store Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Smith Store Road
2
Turn left onto GA 162
4.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Salem Road
Use the left lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 20 West
4
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12
17 mi
·
18 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on I 20
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 44
Toward GA 6: Thornton Road, Austell
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto GA 6
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
C H James Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 278; GA 6
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto GA 92
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
13
Arrive at destination
GA 92
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Oakwood, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 46.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
GA 162 / Salem Road
Turn left onto GA 162 / Salem Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~13m 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.
8
46.2 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
46.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
5
46.4 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
GA 6 / Thornton Road
Merge onto GA 6 / Thornton Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.54 one way
$19.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.43 | $20.86 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.29 | $22.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.47 | $26.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.34 | $2.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.4 | 0 | $8.54 | $3.90 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
California, GA
Morning in California on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed transit with local navigation. Approximately 53% of your journey will be spent on highways, providing a blend of quick pacing and slower segments. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 22.8 miles on the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, which serves as the primary artery for much of the trip. The route transitions through several road types, including the Purple Heart Highway and C H James Parkway, requiring you to remain attentive as the road character shifts. It is a practical drive that avoids the monotony of a single interstate grind by incorporating these varied regional connections.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.8 mi on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near GA 162 / Salem Road.
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 61 miles you will encounter 7 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 1.9 miles (GA 162 / Salem Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,044 ft
745 ft
Total Climb
577 ft
Total Descent
278 ft
Highest Point
1,044 ft
~61 mi in
Elevation Range
299 ft
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.
On the drive from Oakwood, GA to California, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Austell along the way.
Austell
46.2 mi in
|
~59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 61 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). 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 22.8 miles on Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.9 miles (GA 162 / Salem Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.2 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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