John, I have two routes for you to chose. I have driven both, but it was as long as 25 years ago. Also, the US routes tangle and weave together, so at a couple of places, you will cross paths with the other route.
I have tried to avoid major cities, and all interstates. However, you will have to get on the Interstate at least twice, if you chose the easterly route. Also, some of the US routes have been upgraded to 4 lanes, and my have higher speeds then the normal 55.
Both routes start at Fredrick MD. Easterly route is 1st, Westerly is 2nd.
Fredrick MD US15s to Culpepper VA
US 15s Culpepper to Orange VA to Farmville VA, South to Durham/Chapel Hill(sorry, it will be a mess going thru). Then, US15s to Sanford NC Stay on US15/US1s to Aberdeen, then follow US15s to Laurinburg NC, Bennetsville SC, on to Sumter SC.
From Sumter, US15s to Summerton, where you have to get on I95 to cross the swamp. Then US301s to Orangeburg SC, Allendale SC, onto Sylvania Ga.
From Sylvania Ga, 301s to Statesboro, pick up US 80w to Dublin Ga.
From Dublin, follow US 80w to Danville Ga, where you will take Ga 96w to Bonaire Ga, Fort Valley, Butler, Geneva, and then Columbus Ga.
Westerly Route
Same as above until Culpepper Va. Then you will take US 29s to Charlottesville VA(sorry, another college town, many many traffic lights) Charlottesville VA to Lynchburg, Danville, and then Greensboro NC.
From Greensboro, take US421s to Sanford NC(sound familiar?), where you can pickup US1s. Stay on US1 south to Rockingham NC, Cheraw SC, Camden SC onto Columbia SC.
From Columbia SC, take I20 to bypass Columbia(trust me, a lot better then going into town) I would stay on I20 to Augusta Ga, where I would pickup US 1s again.
From Augusta, US1s to Louisville Ga, pickup US 221S to Bartow Ga, where you pick up US 319s to Dublin Ga.
From Dublin, follow route as above to Columbus GA.
If you decide on the westerly route, you have many SS members in Columbia, and I am down the road in Aiken. I will also have to give you detailed instructions concerning Augusta- it will make the trip a lot easier. As for trip time- It is 4-5 hours from Aiken to Columbus by MV.
