Traveling from Powder Springs to Augusta covers 169.3 miles across the Southeast, making for a manageable journey that typically takes 3 hours and 13 minutes. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, as it is well-suited for a straightforward day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Budget approximately $27 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through Georgia, you will utilize a combination of the Tom Murphy Freeway, the Purple Heart Highway, and the Carl Sanders Highway. This route offers a balance of local accessibility and regional connectivity, providing a practical way to traverse the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.6 miles from Powder Springs, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
84.9 mi
1h 30m
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Tom Murphy Freeway
22.9 mi
27m
Thornton Road
3.5 mi
5m
C H James Parkway
3.4 mi
4m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Washington Road
2.4 mi
4m
Lewis Road
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Powder Springs, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on Marietta Street
107 ft·6 sec·Marietta Street
2
Turn right onto Lewis Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Lewis Road
3
Enter roundabout onto Lewis Road
96 ft·2 sec·Lewis Road
4
Continue on Lewis Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Lewis Road
5
Continue on Oglesby Road
0.1 mi·18 sec·Oglesby Road
6
Turn left onto US 278; GA 6
3.4 mi·4 min·C H James Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Continue on US 278; GA 6
3.5 mi·5 min·Thornton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: AtlantaUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 20
23 mi·27 min·Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 20
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 20
85 mi·1 hr 30 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
13
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
14
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
15
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
16
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
17
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
18
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
19
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, though planning for one strategic stop will help break up the 3-hour and 13-minute travel time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $27 estimate is based on standard driving conditions and could fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the route is turn-heavy, prioritize leaving during daylight hours to better navigate the local road segments comfortably. Given the high percentage of non-highway driving, ensure your tires and brakes are in good condition before you head out. Taking your single planned stop midway through the 84.9-mile stretch on the Carl Sanders Highway is a great way to stay refreshed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.6 miles from Powder Springs, GA, or about 1h 39m 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 37 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.6 miles or 1h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 37m
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 Powder Springs, 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 Powder Springs, GA
This is one driving day of about 169.3 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Powder Springs, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 163.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Lewis Road
Turn right onto Lewis Road
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Lewis Road
Enter roundabout onto Lewis Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
8.2 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
5
8.7 mi into trip|~14m in|I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
163.4 mi into trip|~3h 4m in
Take the exit toward GA 28: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 199
Toward GA 28: Augusta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.47 one way
$52.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.95
$57.90
premium
$4.70
$31.33
$62.67
diesel
$5.61
$37.38
$74.76
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.8
0
$17.78
$8.13
Efficient EV
42.3
0
$14.81
$6.77
EV Truck/SUV
67.7
0
$23.70
$10.84
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Powder Springs, GA
Late night
in Powder Springs on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Late night
in Augusta on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Covington, GA
85 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 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 that demands your full attention as you transition between different road types. With only 17% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local stretches rather than cruising on an interstate. Your longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Carl Sanders Highway, which spans 84.9 miles of the journey. Because this is not a monotonous highway grind, the road's personality shifts frequently, requiring you to remain alert behind the wheel. Prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that contrasts sharply with typical high-speed, multi-lane transit.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 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?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Lewis Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 169.3 miles you will encounter 9 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: near the start (Lewis Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Lewis Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,001 ft140 ft
Total Climb
260 ft
Total Descent
1,070 ft
Highest Point
1,001 ft
~24.2 mi in
Elevation Range
861 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 13m. Total distance: 169.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 (Lewis Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Lewis Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Augusta, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
