Spanning 148.6 miles across the Southeast, this drive from Tucker to Augusta is a straightforward journey typically taking 2 hours and 47 minutes. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stop. You will navigate a mix of thoroughfares, including the Carl Sanders Highway, the Purple Heart Highway, and the Atlanta Bypass. Budget approximately $24 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Georgia cities. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick getaway, the route offers a practical connection between the metro area and Augusta.
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
74.3 miles from Tucker, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
84.9 mi
1h 30m
Purple Heart Highway
45.2 mi
48m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
6.3 mi
7m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Washington Road
2.4 mi
4m
Lavista Road
1.9 mi
3m
Covington Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Wesley Chapel Road
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 84.9 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tucker, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on Fellowship Road
65 ft·10 sec·Fellowship Road
2
Turn left onto GA 236
1.9 mi·3 min·Lavista Road
Use the right lane.
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·24 sec
Toward I 285 SouthUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto I 285
6.3 mi·7 min·Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 43Toward US 278: Covington HighwayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn left onto US 278; GA 12
1.8 mi·2 min·Covington Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto Wesley Chapel Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Wesley Chapel Road
Use the right lane.
8
Turn left
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward I 20 EastUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 20
45 mi·48 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 20
85 mi·1 hr 30 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
12
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
13
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
14
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
15
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
16
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
17
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
18
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
Planning for just one stop is ideal for this duration, allowing you to stretch your legs without significantly extending your travel time. Since the route involves heavy local turns, try to avoid peak traffic hours in the Atlanta area to keep your drive time closer to the 2-hour and 47-minute estimate. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge during the longer stretches, though $24 should comfortably cover your needs for the 148.6-mile trip. Because this is a one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Focus on maintaining a steady pace during the 84.9-mile stretch on the Carl Sanders Highway to make the most of your time on the road.
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 74.3 miles from Tucker, GA, or about 1h 25m 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.3 miles or 1h 25m 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 15m
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 Tucker, 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 Tucker, GA
This is one driving day of about 148.6 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Tucker, 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 12.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|GA 236 / Lavista Road
Turn left onto GA 236 / Lavista Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Turn left toward I 285 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 285 South
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Merge onto I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.5 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward US 278: Covington Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 43
Toward US 278: Covington Highway
6
12.1 mi into trip|~17m in
Turn left toward I 20 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.24 one way
$46.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.41
$50.82
premium
$4.70
$27.50
$55.01
diesel
$5.61
$32.81
$65.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52 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
44.6
0
$15.60
$7.13
Efficient EV
37.2
0
$13.00
$5.94
EV Truck/SUV
59.4
0
$20.80
$9.51
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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 17, 2026
Origin
Tucker, GA
Late night
in Tucker on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Late night
in Augusta on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Madison, GA
74 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
2h 47m 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...
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 that requires your full attention as you transition between different road types. While only about two percent of the trip is strictly on the highway, the experience is defined by the 84.9-mile longest stretch along the Carl Sanders Highway. This segment provides the most consistent pace, contrasting with the more technical nature of the local roads. As you move away from the Atlanta area, the road personality shifts from busy bypasses to regional corridors. Prepare for a varied driving experience that moves beyond a simple interstate grind.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near GA 236 / Lavista Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 148.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 (GA 236 / Lavista Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 148.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m 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 236 / Lavista Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
