How far is Columbus, GA from Jefferson, GA?

The driving distance from Columbus, GA to Jefferson, GA is about 169 miles (271.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 140.6 miles (226.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 26m 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
168.96 mi
03h 13m
Flight
140.62 mi
226.3 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
140.62 mi
Kilometers
226.3 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
168.96 mi
Kilometers
271.92 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jefferson
Thu, Apr 23, 8:30 AM EDT
Return by in Columbus
Thu, Apr 23, 11:43 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbus
2026-04-23T05:16
Arrive Jefferson
Thu, Apr 23, 8:30 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:13 AM to 11:13 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
10:34 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
Palmetto
GA

City in Coweta and Fulton Counties, Georgia, United States

From Columbus
84.5 mi
01h 36m
To Jefferson
84.4 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
85°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 7:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE
Destination
86°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    58.8 mi · 1 hr 5 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Continue on Downtown Connector

    5.1 mi · 7 min · Downtown Connector

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Northeast Expressway

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Northeast Expressway

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on Northeast Expressway

    9.7 mi · 12 min · Northeast Expressway

  13. 13

    Continue on Interstate Highway 85

    15.4 mi · 16 min · Interstate Highway 85

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    2718 ft · 33 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 85 North: Gainesville

    23.6 mi · 25 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 129, GA 11: Gainesville, Jefferson

    1692 ft · 44 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left

    3.3 mi · 5 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Old Pendergrass Road

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Old Pendergrass Road

  19. 19

    Turn slight right onto Washington Street

    2113 ft · 44 sec · Washington Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Gordon Street

    126 m · 24 sec · Gordon Street

  21. 21

    Turn left

    131 m · 32 sec

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
3 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
58.8 mi · 35%
Chet Atkins Parkway
43.7 mi · 26%
I 85 North
23.6 mi · 14%
Interstate Highway 85
15.9 mi · 9%
Northeast Expressway
12.4 mi · 7%
Downtown Connector
5.08 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

58.8 mi · 01h 05m

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 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 26m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+28.4 mi
140.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palmetto
01h 36m from Columbus
Leave By
10:34 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Columbus and Sunny near Jefferson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 169 miles (271.9 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Palmetto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 84.5 miles from Columbus and 84.4 miles from Jefferson.

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

The direct path is about 140.6 miles (226.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 28.4 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 10:34 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $23.61 one way or $47.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Palmetto

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Palmetto, 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 Palmetto.

RAIL

Peachtree Station

41 mi away
1688 Peachtree Street, NW
RAIL

Anniston

109 mi away
126 West 4th St
RAIL

Gainesville

115 mi away
116 Industrial Boulevard

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Columbus and Jefferson. Straight-line distance: 140.62 mi (226.3 km).

Columbus

#1 Columbus

The second most populous city in Georgia.

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

#2 Jefferson

City in Jackson County, Georgia, United States

Population12,490
Coordinates34.1170500, -83.5723900
Altitude227
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbus (-84.98771, 32.46098)
End: Jefferson (-83.57239, 34.11705)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 272 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 22m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.96 gal
22.57 L · about $23.61
Round trip
$47.22
11.92 gal · 45.14 L
Estimated CO2
53 kg one way
Round trip: 105.9 kg / 233 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $23.61 $47.22
Mid-grade $4.43 $26.40 $52.79
Premium $4.78 $28.48 $56.95
Diesel $5.62 $33.52 $67.04

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbus and Jefferson. The current time is 05:16:33.

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.