How far is Columbus, GA from Madison, GA?

The driving distance from Columbus, GA to Madison, GA is about 161.4 miles (259.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 117.9 miles (189.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 07m 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
161.36 mi
03h 03m
Flight
117.88 mi
189.71 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
117.88 mi
Kilometers
189.71 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
161.36 mi
Kilometers
259.68 km
Drive Time
03h 03m

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 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Madison
Thu, Apr 30, 6:33 PM EDT
Return by in Columbus
Thu, Apr 30, 9:37 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Columbus
2026-04-30T15:29
Arrive Madison
Thu, Apr 30, 6:33 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:04 AM to 11:04 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
10:52 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
80.7 mi
01h 31m
To Madison
80.7 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
61°F
Tonight

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph W
Destination
59°F
Overnight

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 30 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 mph

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    48 mi · 52 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward GA 279: Old National Highway

    1 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 48 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 285 East: Atlanta International Airport, Macon

    2097 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

    14.7 mi · 17 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 20 East: Augusta

    1.5 mi · 3 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on I 20 East: Augusta

    1542 ft · 38 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Purple Heart Highway

    44 mi · 47 min · Purple Heart Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello

    1939 ft · 54 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Monticello Highway

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Monticello Highway

  19. 19

    Turn slight right

    2002 ft · 38 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight left to continue on South Main Street

    2436 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  21. 21

    Turn left onto Eatonton Road

    48 m · 4 sec · Eatonton Road

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto South Main Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · South Main Street

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
5 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
48 mi · 30%
Purple Heart Highway
44 mi · 27%
Chet Atkins Parkway
43.7 mi · 27%
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
14.7 mi · 9%
I 20 East
1.83 mi · 1%
Wynnton Road
1.57 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

48 mi · 00h 52m

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 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.5 mi
117.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Palmetto
01h 31m from Columbus
Leave By
10:52 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Columbus and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Madison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 161.4 miles (259.7 km) and usually takes 03h 03m 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 80.7 miles from Columbus and 80.7 miles from Madison.

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

The direct path is about 117.9 miles (189.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.5 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 10:52 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.54 one way or $45.08 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 50.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Columbus and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Madison.

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 Madison. Straight-line distance: 117.88 mi (189.71 km).

Columbus

#1 Columbus

The second most populous city in Georgia.

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

#2 Madison

Town in Morgan County, Georgia, United States

Population4,258
Coordinates33.5956800, -83.4679400
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Start: Columbus (-84.98771, 32.46098)
End: Madison (-83.46794, 33.59568)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 260 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.69 gal
21.55 L · about $22.54
Round trip
$45.08
11.38 gal · 43.1 L
Estimated CO2
50.6 kg one way
Round trip: 101.1 kg / 223 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.54 $45.08
Mid-grade $4.43 $25.20 $50.40
Premium $4.78 $27.19 $54.37
Diesel $5.62 $32.00 $64.00

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Columbus and Madison. The current time is 15:29:54.

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.