How far is Columbus, GA from Ellijay, GA?

The driving distance from Columbus, GA to Ellijay, GA is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 157.1 miles (252.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 57m 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
181.92 mi
03h 28m
Flight
157.06 mi
252.77 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Columbus.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
157.06 mi
Kilometers
252.77 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
181.92 mi
Kilometers
292.77 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

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 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Ellijay
Fri, Apr 17, 3:01 PM EDT
Return by in Columbus
Fri, Apr 17, 6:30 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbus
2026-04-17T11:33
Arrive Ellijay
Fri, Apr 17, 3:01 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 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
10:02 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Columbus
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
Union City
GA

City in Fulton County, Georgia, United States

From Columbus
91.1 mi
01h 44m
To Ellijay
90.8 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
90°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W
Destination
86°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Columbus and Ellijay.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Columbus and Ellijay.

  1. 1

    Start on Veterans Parkway

    4 m · 6 sec · Veterans Parkway

  2. 2

    Continue on Veterans Parkway

    1426 ft · 47 sec · Veterans Parkway

  3. 3

    Turn right onto 10th Street

    2431 ft · 1 min · 10th Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 10th Avenue

    123 m · 16 sec · 10th Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn sharp right onto Wynnton Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Wynnton Road

  6. 6

    Continue on Macon Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Macon Road

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight left toward I 185 North

    1372 ft · 34 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Chet Atkins Parkway

    43.7 mi · 47 min · Chet Atkins Parkway

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    47.5 mi · 51 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 285: Atlanta Bypass, Atlanta International Airport

    1986 ft · 48 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 285 North: Birmingham, Chattanooga

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

    18.7 mi · 22 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Atlanta, Chattanooga

    1673 ft · 26 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North, I 285 East: Marietta, Chattanooga

    1511 ft · 24 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga

    1.4 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga

    1602 ft · 21 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

    8.3 mi · 10 min · Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

    24.2 mi · 26 min · Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on A P D Highway

    6.7 mi · 7 min · A P D Highway

  20. 20

    Continue on APD Highway

    24.8 mi · 31 min · APD Highway

  21. 21

    Turn left onto 1st Avenue

    545 ft · 17 sec · 1st Avenue

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left onto River Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · River Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto North Church Street

    13 m · 2 sec · North Church Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Church Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Columbus and Ellijay.

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
24 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
47.5 mi · 26%
Chet Atkins Parkway
43.7 mi · 24%
APD Highway
24.8 mi · 14%
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
24.2 mi · 13%
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
18.7 mi · 10%
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
8.3 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

47.5 mi · 00h 51m

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 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.8 mi
157.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Union City
01h 44m from Columbus
Leave By
10:02 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbus and Sunny near Ellijay.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Columbus to Ellijay?

The road trip is about 181.9 miles (292.8 km) and usually takes 03h 28m 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?

Union City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91.1 miles from Columbus and 90.8 miles from Ellijay.

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

The direct path is about 157.1 miles (252.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.8 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 10:02 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.43 one way or $50.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Columbus and Sunny near Ellijay.

Stop Ideas Near Union City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Union City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Union City.

RAIL

Peachtree Station

27 mi away
1688 Peachtree Street, NW
RAIL

Gainesville

102 mi away
116 Industrial Boulevard

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbus and Ellijay. Straight-line distance: 157.06 mi (252.77 km).

Columbus

#1 Columbus

The second most populous city in Georgia.

Population196,442
Coordinates32.4609800, -84.9877100
Altitude82
CountryUnited States
Ellijay

#2 Ellijay

City in Gilmer County, Georgia, United States of America

Population1,724
Coordinates34.6948100, -84.4821500
Altitude390
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbus (-84.98771, 32.46098)
End: Ellijay (-84.48215, 34.69481)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 293 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.42 gal
24.3 L · about $25.43
Round trip
$50.86
12.84 gal · 48.6 L
Estimated CO2
57.1 kg one way
Round trip: 114.1 kg / 252 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.43 $50.86
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.43 $56.87
Premium $4.78 $30.67 $61.35
Diesel $5.62 $36.11 $72.21

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbus and Ellijay. The current time is 11:33:15.

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.