This 153.5-mile journey from Riverdale, GA to Augusta, GA is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Carl Sanders Highway, Purple Heart Highway, and the Atlanta Bypass/The Perimeter. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this drive offers a straightforward way to travel within the Southeast region. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local driving experience rather than a pure interstate cruise. One stop is recommended along the way to break up the drive.
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
76.7 miles from Riverdale, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
84.9 mi
1h 30m
Purple Heart Highway
45.5 mi
48m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
9.5 mi
10m
State Route 85
3 mi
5m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Washington Road
2.4 mi
4m
Forest Parkway
1.2 mi
2m
Old Dixie Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverdale, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on this road
39 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto GA 139
186 ft·11 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto GA 85
3.0 mi·5 min·State Route 85
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto GA 331
1.2 mi·2 min·Forest Parkway
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto US 19; US 41; GA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Dixie Road
6
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 285 EastUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 285
9.5 mi·10 min·Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.5 mi·3 min
Exit 46BToward I 20 East: AugustaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 20 East: AugustaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 20
46 mi·48 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
To make the most of this 2-hour and 55-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially around the Atlanta Bypass. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $24, and plan your refueling accordingly. A good tip for this route is to be mindful of the frequent turns, especially once you leave the longer stretches of the Carl Sanders Highway, as this will be your main navigational challenge.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.7 miles from Riverdale, GA, or about 1h 29m 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 34 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.7 miles or 1h 29m 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 22m
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 Riverdale, 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 Riverdale, GA
This is one driving day of about 153.5 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Riverdale, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.8 — 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|GA 139 / Main Street
Turn right onto GA 139 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|GA 85 / State Route 85
Turn left onto GA 85 / State Route 85
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward I 285 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 285 East
7
15.3 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 46B
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
7
16.8 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.00 one way
$48.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$26.25
$52.49
premium
$4.70
$28.41
$56.82
diesel
$5.61
$33.89
$67.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.1
0
$16.12
$7.37
Efficient EV
38.4
0
$13.43
$6.14
EV Truck/SUV
61.4
0
$21.49
$9.82
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 20, 2026
Origin
Riverdale, GA
Morning
in Riverdale on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Morning
in Augusta on Tuesday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Madison, GA
77 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
6 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 55m 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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 10.6
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
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 on this route, with a significant portion of your time spent on surface streets and less direct highway travel. While 75% of this journey involves highways, the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile indicates you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 84.9 miles on the Carl Sanders Highway, so be prepared for a more engaging driving experience with less monotony. This isn't a simple point-to-point interstate cruise; it requires more active navigation.
Only 4% 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?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near GA 139 / Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 153.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 139 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (GA 85 / State Route 85): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 153.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Augusta, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 139 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (GA 85 / State Route 85): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
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 Augusta, GA before heading back.
