Spanning 121 miles across Georgia, the journey from Winder to Augusta is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 2 hours and 27 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an ideal excursion for those looking to travel between these two Southeast hubs. With an estimated fuel cost of $19, the trip is quite budget-friendly for solo drivers or groups alike. Because the route is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you have business or plans that require extra time at your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense connection that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.5 miles from Winder, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Carl Sanders Highway
26.6 mi
28m
Lexington Road
23.2 mi
29m
US 78
22.3 mi
28m
University Parkway
11.8 mi
14m
Washington Road
11.7 mi
14m
Athens Road
8.4 mi
9m
Outer Loop 10
6.2 mi
7m
Calhoun Expressway
2.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Carl Sanders Highway
— 26.6 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winder, GA and Augusta, GA.
1
Start on GA 11; GA 53; GA 211
0.2 mi·35 sec·Broad Street
2
Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53
1.0 mi·1 min·East May Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on GA 8; GA 53
1.3 mi·1 min·Atlanta Highway Southeast
4
Turn slight right
193 ft·3 sec
5
Turn slight right onto GA 8; GA 53
2.3 mi·3 min·Hog Mountain Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·35 sec
7
Merge onto US 29; GA 8; GA 316
12 mi·14 min·University Parkway
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 29; US 78; GA 8
0.4 mi·29 sec·US 29; US 78; GA 8
Toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Outer: University of Georgia, Lexington, HartwellUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto US 29; US 78; GA 8; GA 10 Loop
6.2 mi·7 min·Outer Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto US 78
0.4 mi·49 sec·US 78
Exit 8Toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington RoadUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on US 78; GA 10
1.4 mi·2 min·Lexington Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on US 78; GA 10
0.2 mi·24 sec·Lexington Highway
13
Continue on US 78; GA 10
5.8 mi·8 min·Lexington Road
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on US 78; GA 10
8.4 mi·9 min·Athens Road
15
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 22
0.9 mi·58 sec·Main Street
16
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 22
9.3 mi·10 min·Washington Road
17
Continue on US 78; GA 10
16 mi·18 min·Lexington Road
18
Turn right onto US 78; GA 10; GA 17
22 mi·27 min·US 78; GA 10; GA 17
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward I-20 East: AugustaUse the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 20
27 mi·28 min·Carl Sanders Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 199Toward GA 28: Augusta
22
Keep slight right at fork
481 ft·11 sec
23
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.4 mi·4 min·Washington Road
24
Turn straight onto GA 28
2.7 mi·3 min·Calhoun Expressway
25
Continue on GA 28
0.1 mi·13 sec·Greene Street
26
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.4 mi·44 sec·11th Street
27
Turn right onto Walton Way
225 ft·3 sec·Walton Way
28
Arrive at destination
Walton Way
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 27-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can comfortably make the drive without planning for extensive rest breaks, though it is always wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge given the $19 estimate for the total distance. If you prefer to avoid heavier traffic, consider timing your departure to miss peak morning or afternoon congestion on the main roads. Make sure to stay alert during the transition between US 78 and the local segments, as road conditions can shift quickly. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the freedom to pace yourself and pull over whenever you feel like stretching your legs.
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 60.5 miles from Winder, GA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.6 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.5 miles or 1h 15m 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 1m
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 Winder, 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 Winder, GA
This is one driving day of about 121 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Winder, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Carl Sanders Highway for about 26.6 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 0.2 and 88.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street
Turn left onto GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in|US 29; GA 8; GA 316 / University Parkway
Merge onto US 29; GA 8; GA 316 / University Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
17.2 mi into trip|~22m in|US 29; US 78; GA 8
Take the exit onto US 29; US 78; GA 8 toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Outer: University of Georgia, Lexington, Hartwell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Oute...
8
23.8 mi into trip|~30m in|US 78
Take the exit onto US 78 toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8
Toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington R...
7
88.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the ramp toward I-20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-20 East: Augusta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.92 one way
$37.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$20.69
$41.38
premium
$4.70
$22.39
$44.79
diesel
$5.61
$26.72
$53.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.3
0
$12.70
$5.81
Efficient EV
30.3
0
$10.59
$4.84
EV Truck/SUV
48.4
0
$16.94
$7.74
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Winder, GA
Late night
in Winder on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Augusta, GA
Late night
in Augusta on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
83°F
Union Point, GA
61 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
26 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 27m 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 mixed driving experience that transitions through varied road types rather than a monotonous interstate haul. You will spend roughly 31% of your time on highways, navigating a combination of Carl Sanders Highway, Lexington Road, and US 78. Be prepared for a change in pace as the route shifts between these roads, with the longest uninterrupted stretch being a 26.6-mile segment on Carl Sanders Highway. This blend of infrastructure keeps the drive engaging, moving you through different traffic environments as you head toward Augusta. It offers a balanced feel, avoiding the relentless repetition of pure interstate travel while maintaining a steady forward momentum.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on Carl Sanders Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 121 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 0.2 miles (GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (US 29; GA 8; GA 316 / University Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles (US 29; US 78; GA 8): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Winder, GA and Augusta, GA, road signs point toward Lexington and Hartwell.
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 27m. Total distance: 121 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (GA 8; GA 11; GA 53 / East May Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (US 29; GA 8; GA 316 / University Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles (US 29; US 78; GA 8): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Augusta, GA before heading back.
