How far is Dawson, GA from California, GA?

The driving distance from Dawson, GA to California, GA is about 186.1 miles (299.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 149.2 miles (240.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 04m 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
186.13 mi
03h 02m
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 Dawson.

Flight Distance

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

Driving Distance

Road route
186.13 mi
Kilometers
299.54 km
Drive Time
03h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in California
Tue, May 12, 10:18 PM EDT
Return by in Dawson
Wed, May 13, 1:20 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dawson
2026-05-12T19:15
Arrive California
Tue, May 12, 10:18 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:02 AM to 11:02 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
10:56 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dawson
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 Dawson
87.4 mi
01h 31m
To California
98.7 mi
01h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE
Destination
77°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 2:00 PM EDT
Wind
10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Vine Street Northwest

    1422 ft · 30 sec · Vine Street Northwest

  2. 2

    Continue on Roundtree Drive

    1283 ft · 27 sec · Roundtree Drive

  3. 3

    Continue on Martin Luther King Jr Drive

    2414 ft · 44 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on Columbus Highway

    8 mi · 10 min · Columbus Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on South Parrott Street

    8.7 mi · 11 min · South Parrott Street

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    8.3 mi · 10 min

  7. 7

    Continue on Richland Bypass

    15.4 mi · 18 min · Richland Bypass

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Continue on Martha Berry Highway

    10.9 mi · 15 min · Martha Berry Highway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta

    2018 ft · 49 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta

    2487 ft · 47 sec

  12. 12

    Continue on Chet Atkins Parkway

    49.2 mi · 53 min · Chet Atkins Parkway

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

    30.4 mi · 33 min · Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward GA 154: McCollum, Sharpsburg Road

    1552 ft · 45 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Sharpsburg McCollum Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Sharpsburg McCollum Road

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Main Street

    4.6 mi · 7 min · Main Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Roosevelt Highway

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Roosevelt Highway

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Palmetto Cascade Highway

    6.4 mi · 10 min · Palmetto Cascade Highway

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Palmetto Cascade Highway

    40 m · 3 sec · Palmetto Cascade Highway

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto Palmetto Cascade Highway

    2.2 mi · 4 min · Palmetto Cascade Highway

  21. 21

    Turn sharp left onto Campbellton Fairburn Road

    1.3 km · 1 min · Campbellton Fairburn Road

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Route 166

    17 m · 1 sec · State Route 166

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto State Route 166

    3.5 mi · 5 min · State Route 166

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Fairburn Road

    6.1 mi · 11 min · Fairburn Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Dallas Highway

    3.1 mi · 5 min · Dallas Highway

  26. 26

    Continue on Hiram Douglasville Highway

    6 mi · 9 min · Hiram Douglasville Highway

  27. 27

    Continue on Hiram Douglasville Road

    1.4 km · 1 min · Hiram Douglasville Road

  28. 28

    Continue on Hiram Douglasville Highway

    1 km · 58 sec · Hiram Douglasville Highway

  29. 29

    Continue on Hiram Acworth Highway

    2 mi · 3 min · Hiram Acworth Highway

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Hiram Acworth Highway

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Chet Atkins Parkway
49.2 mi · 26%
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
30.4 mi · 16%
Richland Bypass
18.7 mi · 10%
South Parrott Street
17 mi · 9%
Martha Berry Highway
10.9 mi · 6%
Palmetto Cascade Highway
8.61 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Chet Atkins Parkway

Continue on Chet Atkins Parkway

49.2 mi · 00h 53m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.9 mi
149.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Hamilton
01h 31m from Dawson
Leave By
10:56 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Dawson and Mostly Sunny near California.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 186.1 miles (299.5 km) and usually takes 03h 02m 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 87.4 miles from Dawson and 98.7 miles from California.

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 36.9 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 10:56 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.02 one way or $52.05 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

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

Dawson

#1 Dawson

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

Population4,124
Coordinates31.7738200, -84.4480000
Altitude107
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 California

California is a place in Georgia, United States.

Population0
Coordinates33.9189900, -84.7457700
Altitude317
CountryUnited States
Start: GA 45 (-84.448018, 31.77382)
End: Hiram Acworth Highway (-84.745736, 33.91899)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 300 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.57 gal
24.86 L · about $26.02
Round trip
$52.05
13.14 gal · 49.72 L
Estimated CO2
58.4 kg one way
Round trip: 116.8 kg / 257 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $26.02 $52.05
Mid-grade $4.43 $29.10 $58.20
Premium $4.78 $31.39 $62.78
Diesel $5.62 $36.95 $73.90

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Dawson and California. The current time is 19:15:45.

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.