If you are planning a trip from Union City to Columbus, Georgia, expect a direct 91.9-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have extra plans in Columbus. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this trip stays entirely within the Southeast region, the landscape remains consistent throughout your travel. It is a straightforward, no-nonsense commute that gets you from point A to point B efficiently. Use this drive when you need a quick, reliable connection between these two Georgia locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.4 miles from Union City, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chet Atkins Parkway
44.7 mi
47m
I 85
42.3 mi
45m
Wynnton Road
1.6 mi
2m
Shannon Parkway
1.1 mi
2m
Macon Road
1.1 mi
1m
10th Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Veterans Parkway
0.3 mi
<1m
Jonesboro Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Chet Atkins Parkway
— 44.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, GA and Columbus, GA.
1
Start on Bantry Circle
267 ft·18 sec·Bantry Circle
2
Turn left onto Limerick Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·Limerick Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Kilkenny Drive
205 ft·11 sec·Kilkenny Drive
4
Turn right onto Bally Shannon Drive
498 ft·27 sec·Bally Shannon Drive
5
Turn left onto Flat Shoals Road
419 ft·13 sec·Flat Shoals Road
6
Turn right onto Shannon Parkway
1.1 mi·2 min·Shannon Parkway
7
Turn left onto GA 138
0.3 mi·35 sec·Jonesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 85 South: Montgomery
9
Merge onto I 85
42 mi·45 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 185
45 mi·47 min·Chet Atkins Parkway
Exit 21Toward I 185 South: ColumbusUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 6Toward GA 22 Spur: Macon RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
376 ft·9 sec
Toward GA 22 Spur WestUse the right lane.
13
Turn slight right onto GA 22 Spur
1.1 mi·1 min·Macon Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on GA 22 Spur
1.6 mi·2 min·Wynnton Road
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn sharp left onto 10th Avenue
404 ft·12 sec·10th Avenue
16
Turn right onto 10th Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·10th Street
17
Turn left onto US 27; GA 1
0.3 mi·43 sec·Veterans Parkway
18
Arrive at destination
US 27; GA 1
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for any scheduled stops along the way, as the 1 hour and 25-minute duration is quick enough to complete in one go. Before you head out, verify your route through the local streets of Limerick, Kilkenny, and Bally Shannon Drives, as these turns define your entire experience. Keep your $14 fuel budget in mind, and consider filling up before you leave Union City to avoid hunting for stations on local roads. Prioritize your departure to avoid peak local traffic, which can make navigating these turn-heavy neighborhood stretches more cumbersome than necessary.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.4 miles from Union City, GA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.7 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 20 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.4 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
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 Union City, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, GA
This is one driving day of about 92.8 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Union City, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Chet Atkins Parkway for about 44.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 89.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Limerick Drive
Turn left onto Limerick Drive
Navigation decision point
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Kilkenny Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Kilkenny Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
8
44.4 mi into trip|~51m in|I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway toward I 185 South: Columbus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21
Toward I 185 South: Columbus
7
89.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
89.3 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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
$14.51 one way
$29.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.87
$31.73
premium
$4.70
$17.18
$34.35
diesel
$5.61
$20.49
$40.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
Efficient EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
EV Truck/SUV
37.1
0
$12.99
$5.94
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Union City, GA
Morning
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
7:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Columbus, GA
Morning
in Columbus on Sunday
Local time
7:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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 45m 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?
Forget about cruising down a monotonous interstate, as this 91.9-mile trek is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, relying instead on local roads like Limerick Drive, Kilkenny Drive, and Bally Shannon Drive to navigate the area. Because the route is composed of local roads, there isn't a long, uninterrupted stretch to settle into; the longest stretch is 0 miles on Limerick Drive. Expect to stay alert behind the wheel, as the technical nature of these local roads requires consistent navigation through turns. This path offers a hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from typical high-speed, multi-lane transit.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.7 mi on Chet Atkins Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chet Atkins Parkway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Limerick Drive.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (Limerick Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Kilkenny Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 44.4 miles (I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 45m. Total distance: 92.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.7 miles on Chet Atkins Parkway. 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 Columbus, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 0.1 miles (Limerick Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Kilkenny Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 44.4 miles (I 185 / Chet Atkins Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Columbus, GA before heading back.
