How far is California, GA from Dawson, GA?

The driving distance from California, GA to Dawson, GA is about 174.8 miles (281.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 38m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 149.2 miles (240.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 17m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
174.8 mi
03h 38m
Flight
149.22 mi
240.15 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from California.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
149.22 mi
Kilometers
240.15 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.8 mi
Kilometers
281.32 km
Drive Time
03h 38m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 38m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dawson
Sat, Apr 11, 4:14 PM EDT
Return by in California
Sat, Apr 11, 7:52 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave California
2026-04-11T12:35
Arrive Dawson
Sat, Apr 11, 4:14 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 38m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:39 AM to 11:39 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:42 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in California
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Hamilton
GA

City in Harris County, Georgia, United States

From California
87.6 mi
01h 49m
To Dawson
87.3 mi
01h 49m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
84°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
82°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 11 2:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between California and Dawson.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between California and Dawson.

  1. 1

    Start on Hiram Acworth Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Hiram Acworth Highway

  2. 2

    Continue on Hiram Douglasville Highway

    3244 ft · 57 sec · Hiram Douglasville Highway

  3. 3

    Continue on Hiram Douglasville Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Hiram Douglasville Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Hiram Douglasville Highway

    6 mi · 9 min · Hiram Douglasville Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on Dallas Highway

    3.1 mi · 6 min · Dallas Highway

  6. 6

    Continue on Fairburn Road

    6.1 mi · 11 min · Fairburn Road

  7. 7

    Turn right

    3.5 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    77 m · 4 sec

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout

    1.2 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Palmetto Cascade Highway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Palmetto Cascade Highway

  11. 11

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Palmetto Cascade Highway

    35 m · 2 sec · Palmetto Cascade Highway

  12. 12

    Exit the roundabout onto Palmetto Cascade Highway

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Palmetto Cascade Highway

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Roosevelt Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Roosevelt Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Main Street

    4.6 mi · 7 min · Main Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Sharpsburg McCollum Road

    2898 ft · 58 sec · Sharpsburg McCollum Road

  16. 16

    Take the ramp right toward I 85 South: Montgomery

    1323 ft · 32 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    29.6 mi · 32 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Chet Atkins Parkway

    50.5 mi · 55 min · Chet Atkins Parkway

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 27 South, GA 1 South, US 280 East, GA 520 East: Cusseta, Albany

    1259 ft · 25 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto Victory Drive

    11.6 mi · 16 min · Victory Drive

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    15.4 mi · 18 min

  23. 23

    Continue on Wall Street

    16 mi · 19 min · Wall Street

  24. 24

    Continue on North Parrott Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · North Parrott Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Columbus Highway

    8 mi · 10 min · Columbus Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Drive

    2414 ft · 44 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Drive

  27. 27

    Continue on Roundtree Drive

    1283 ft · 27 sec · Roundtree Drive

  28. 28

    Continue on Vine Street Northwest

    1422 ft · 30 sec · Vine Street Northwest

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street Northwest

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between California and Dawson.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
29 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chet Atkins Parkway
50.5 mi · 29%
Victory Drive
30.2 mi · 17%
I 85 South
29.8 mi · 17%
Wall Street
16 mi · 9%
Palmetto Cascade Highway
8.61 mi · 5%
Columbus Highway
7.96 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Chet Atkins Parkway

Keep slight right to continue on Chet Atkins Parkway

50.5 mi · 00h 55m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 38m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+25.6 mi
149.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hamilton
01h 49m from California
Leave By
9:42 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving California and Sunny near Dawson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from California to Dawson?

The road trip is about 174.8 miles (281.3 km) and usually takes 03h 38m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Hamilton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.6 miles from California and 87.3 miles from Dawson.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 149.2 miles (240.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 25.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:42 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.44 one way or $48.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around California and Sunny near Dawson.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between California and Dawson. Straight-line distance: 149.22 mi (240.15 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 California

California is a place in Georgia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates33.9189900, -84.7457700
Altitude317
CountryUnited States
Dawson

#2 Dawson

City in and the county seat of Terrell County, Georgia, United States

Population4,124
Coordinates31.7738200, -84.4480000
Altitude107
CountryUnited States
Start: California (-84.74577, 33.91899)
End: Dawson (-84.448, 31.77382)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 281 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 29m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.17 gal
23.35 L · about $24.44
Round trip
$48.88
12.34 gal · 46.7 L
Estimated CO2
54.8 kg one way
Round trip: 109.7 kg / 242 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $24.44 $48.88
Mid-grade $4.43 $27.33 $54.65
Premium $4.78 $29.48 $58.96
Diesel $5.62 $34.70 $69.40

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Georgia · Apr 11, 2026

There is no time difference between California and Dawson. The current time is 12:35:33.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.