Traveling from Rome to Columbus covers 143.6 miles across the heart of Georgia, typically taking about 3 hours and 5 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the manageable distance, this trek is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $23 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this path involves connecting via the Chet Atkins Parkway, Martha Berry Highway, and the Cedartown Bypass. It is a straightforward transit within the Southeast region, ideal for those who prefer local roads over the monotony of major interstates.
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
71.8 miles from Rome, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chet Atkins Parkway
35.9 mi
38m
Martha Berry Highway
31.7 mi
37m
Cedartown Bypass
28.7 mi
38m
North Park Street
11.4 mi
17m
Cedartown Highway
10.2 mi
13m
New Franklin Road
7.5 mi
11m
Hamilton Road
7.2 mi
10m
Rome Highway
4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Chet Atkins Parkway
— 35.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rome, GA and Columbus, GA.
1
Start on US 27; GA 1; GA 20
2.0 mi·3 min·Turner McCall Boulevard
2
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27; GA 1; GA 53
0.3 mi·29 sec·Turner McCall Boulevard
Toward US 411, GA 53, US 27: Cedartown, GadsdenUse the slight right lane.
3
Merge onto US 27; US 411; GA 1; GA 53
10 mi·13 min·Cedartown Highway
4
Continue on US 27; GA 1
4.0 mi·5 min·Rome Highway
5
Continue on US 27; GA 1
29 mi·38 min·Cedartown Bypass
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 27; GA 1
11 mi·17 min·North Park Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 27; GA 1
32 mi·37 min·Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 27; GA 1
7.5 mi·11 min·New Franklin Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on US 27; US 29; GA 1; GA 14
0.5 mi·1 min·Morgan Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 27; GA 1; GA 219
0.2 mi·31 sec·Whitesville Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
7.2 mi·10 min·Hamilton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 185 South: Columbus
13
Merge onto I 185
36 mi·38 min·Chet Atkins Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 6Toward GA 22 Spur: Macon RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
376 ft·9 sec
Toward GA 22 Spur WestUse the right lane.
16
Turn slight right onto GA 22 Spur
1.1 mi·1 min·Macon Road
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on GA 22 Spur
1.6 mi·2 min·Wynnton Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn sharp left onto 10th Avenue
404 ft·12 sec·10th Avenue
19
Turn right onto 10th Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·10th Street
20
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
0.3 mi·43 sec·Veterans Parkway
21
Arrive at destination
US 27; GA 1
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one planned stop will help break up the drive comfortably. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between the Cedartown Bypass and the Martha Berry Highway, as the turn-heavy nature of the route can be easy to misjudge. Given the $23 fuel estimate, filling up your tank before leaving Rome ensures you won't have to worry about finding a station during the middle stretches. Aim to start your drive during daylight hours to better navigate the local road segments, which offer a more authentic look at the Georgia landscape than the typical highway grind.
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 71.8 miles from Rome, GA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 32 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.8 miles or 1h 36m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Columbus, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rome, 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 Rome, GA
This is one driving day of about 143.6 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Rome, 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 Chet Atkins Parkway for about 35.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 140.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2 mi into trip|~3m in|US 27; GA 1; GA 53 / Turner McCall Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto US 27; GA 1; GA 53 / Turner McCall Boulevard toward US 411, GA 53, US 27: Cedartown, Gadsden
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 411, GA 53, US 27: Cedartown, Gadsden
5
96.5 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|US 27; GA 1 / Hamilton Road
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1 / Hamilton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
103.7 mi into trip|~2h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 185 South: Columbus
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 185 South: Columbus
7
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Take the exit toward GA 22 Spur: Macon Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6
Toward GA 22 Spur: Macon Road
8
140.1 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GA 22 Spur West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward GA 22 Spur West
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.46 one way
$44.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$24.55
$49.11
premium
$4.70
$26.58
$53.15
diesel
$5.61
$31.71
$63.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.1
0
$15.08
$6.89
Efficient EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.74
EV Truck/SUV
57.4
0
$20.10
$9.19
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 15, 2026
Origin
Rome, GA
Late night
in Rome on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, GA
Late night
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
12:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Mount Zion, GA
72 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
3h 5m 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 rather than a mindless cruise. While you will spend about 25% of your time on highways, the majority of the trip consists of winding through local corridors. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 35.9-mile segment on the Chet Atkins Parkway. The personality of this route shifts as you transition between these bypasses and highways, keeping the pace varied. You will find that the constant changes in road character make for a more engaging, hands-on driving experience than a standard high-speed sprint.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on Chet Atkins Parkway.
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 around 2 miles in near US 27; GA 1; GA 53 / Turner McCall Boulevard.
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 10 significant decision points across 143.6 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: at 2 miles (US 27; GA 1; GA 53 / Turner McCall Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.5 miles (US 27; GA 1 / Hamilton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 103.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 143.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on Chet Atkins Parkway. 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.
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 Columbus, 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: at 2 miles (US 27; GA 1; GA 53 / Turner McCall Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.5 miles (US 27; GA 1 / Hamilton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 103.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Columbus, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
