ToClearSkies
🔥 See current wildfires →
Augusta air right now

ModerateAQI 60

Augusta’s five-day smoke forecast shows the current index and the clearest time ahead.

60
AQI now
13.7
PM2.5 · µg/m³
1 cleaner spot within 3 hr drive

Where are you?

Search covers Canada and the United States.

The better move within a 3-hour drive

Dates

Dates follow you into hotel searches. Live inventory is confirmed by the provider.

Beaufort looks like the better move.52% cleaner air with a verified 2 h 55 min road trip. Rankings balance cleaner air with trip ease.

Every town is also available in the ranked list.
Augusta Clean · PM2.5 0–5 Good · 5–9 Elevated · 9–15 Polluted · 15–35 Unhealthy · 35–55 Severe · 55+
Top pick
Greenwood
Cel-shaded illustration of Greenwood
AQI 36
#1GreenwoodChecking road route

South Carolina· Good

South Carolina community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

53% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.4 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.4/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

53% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Columbia
Cel-shaded illustration of Columbia
AQI 60
#2Columbia~1 h 30 min drive

South Carolina· Moderate

A major South Carolina city with broad lodging options and live air-quality readings for comparison when smoke shifts across the region.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 13.9 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 13.9/22 × 7 = 4.4 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
1% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Irmo DJJ monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Aiken
Cel-shaded illustration of Aiken
AQI 61
#3AikenChecking road route

South Carolina· Moderate

South Carolina community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

Worse air than home. Don't bother.

PM2.5 is 14.2 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 14.2/22 × 7 = 4.5 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
4% worse airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Trenton monitor.

Directions
Still smoky
Grovetown
Cel-shaded illustration of Grovetown
AQI unavailable
#4GrovetownChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Gloverville
Cel-shaded illustration of Gloverville
AQI unavailable
#5GlovervilleChecking road route

South Carolina

South Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Hephzibah
Cel-shaded illustration of Hephzibah
AQI unavailable
#6HephzibahChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Graniteville
Cel-shaded illustration of Graniteville
AQI unavailable
#7GranitevilleChecking road route

South Carolina

South Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Jackson
Cel-shaded illustration of Jackson
AQI unavailable
#8JacksonChecking road route

South Carolina

South Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Harlem
Cel-shaded illustration of Harlem
AQI unavailable
#9HarlemChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
New Ellenton
Cel-shaded illustration of New Ellenton
AQI unavailable
#10New EllentonChecking road route

South Carolina

South Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Edgefield
Cel-shaded illustration of Edgefield
AQI unavailable
#11EdgefieldChecking road route

South Carolina

South Carolina community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Still smoky
Waynesboro
Cel-shaded illustration of Waynesboro
AQI unavailable
#12WaynesboroChecking road route

Georgia

Georgia community with a cached air reading available when it appears in a nearby escape search.

Air comparison pending.

Air comparison pendingChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

PM2.5 is modelled for this town.

Directions
Clarkesville
Cel-shaded illustration of Clarkesville
AQI 27
#13ClarkesvilleChecking road route

Georgia· Good

Northeast Georgia mountain town near Tallulah Gorge, a waterfall base with cool ridge air and inns.

65% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 4.8 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 4.8/22 × 7 = 1.5 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.9 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

65% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Tryon
Cel-shaded illustration of Tryon
AQI 29
#14TryonChecking road route

North Carolina· Good

Foothills equestrian town on the Blue Ridge escarpment, cooler than the Piedmont with inns and B&Bs.

61% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 5.3 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 5.3/22 × 7 = 1.7 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

8.4 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

61% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Gainesville
Cel-shaded illustration of Gainesville
AQI 36
#15GainesvilleChecking road route

Georgia· Good

Lake Lanier resort city in the north Georgia foothills, with open-water air and lakeside lodging.

53% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.4 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.4/22 × 7 = 2.0 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.3 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

53% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Gainesville monitor.

Directions
Beaufort
Cel-shaded illustration of Beaufort
AQI 37
#16Beaufort~2 h 55 min drive

South Carolina· Good

Lowcountry town among the sea islands between Charleston and Savannah, cooled by tidal marine air, with historic inns.

52% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 6.6 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 6.6/22 × 7 = 2.1 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

7.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

52% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 6:12 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 is estimated for this town.

Directions
Pickens
Cel-shaded illustration of Pickens
AQI 45
#17PickensChecking road route

South Carolina· Good

Upstate South Carolina town below Table Rock and the Blue Ridge escarpment, with cool foothill air.

41% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 8.1 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 8.1/22 × 7 = 2.6 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

5.6 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

41% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Greenville-ESC monitor.

Directions
Tuscaloosa
Cel-shaded illustration of Tuscaloosa
AQI 3
#18TuscaloosaChecking road route

Alabama· Good

Alabama community with lodging and a separate live air reading for regional smoke comparisons.

96% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 0.6 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 0.6/22 × 7 = 0.2 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

13.1 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

96% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Duncanville Middle School monitor.

Directions
Banner Elk
Cel-shaded illustration of Banner Elk
AQI 11
#19Banner ElkChecking road route

North Carolina· Good

High-country ski town near 3,700 feet between Grandfather and Beech mountains, with cool alpine air.

85% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

85% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the Spruce Pine monitor.

Directions
Pigeon Forge
Cel-shaded illustration of Pigeon Forge
AQI 11
#20Pigeon Forge~5 h 55 min drive

Tennessee· Good

Smoky Mountains resort town just below Gatlinburg, set in the foothills with a huge stock of hotels and cabins.

85% cleaner than home — pack the car.

PM2.5 is 2 µg/m³ here vs 13.7 back home.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at these levels: 2/22 × 7 = 0.6 here; 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 at home.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →

11.7 µg/m³ less fine-particle pollution than Augusta right now

85% cleaner airChecking trip easeChecking nearby staysChecking today's weather

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDT

PM2.5 from the MARYVILL monitor.

Directions
Bad week ahead? Check the 7-day outlook — if it won’t clear, book the trip

7-day outlook

Plan the next seven days

Pick a day, or compare the whole week. Weather is forecast; air quality is the latest available reading.

Loading the week…

Finding the nicest days and reachable cities.

Observed Aug 23, 5:00 p.m. EDTLast scan Aug 23, 6:27 p.m. EDT · 49 min ago

Why live rankings? Smoke plumes are patchy and shift with the wind, so no direction is reliably cleaner. This list is recalculated from live PM2.5 every hour — and if everything nearby is smoky, it says so.

How we work this out →

Browse all 200 cities by province & state →

More air-quality pages in Georgia →
Atlanta air quality
Air quality in nearby cities →
Columbia air qualityGreenville air qualityCharleston air qualityCharlotte air qualityKnoxville air qualityWinston-Salem air qualityJacksonville air qualityGreensboro air qualityDurham air qualityTallahassee air qualityRaleigh air qualityMontgomery air quality

What this means · Augusta

Moderate

AQI 60

AQI = Air Quality Index

Typical person. Most people can stay active outside.

Kids, seniors, heart or lung conditions. Unusually sensitive people should consider shorter or easier outdoor effort.

The AQI on this page follows fine particles (PM2.5). Particles here are 13.7 µg/m³ (Elevated), so the headline and the particle scale below tell the same story.

Act two · Fine particles only

Where PM2.5 lands

This bar is smoke and fine particles (PM2.5) only. Left is cleaner air; right is heavier particle pollution. Today's particles sit in Elevated.

13.7 µg/m³
Clean · 0Smoky · 40Severe · 80+

Act three · Particle ladder

What each PM2.5 rung feels like

  • 0–3µg/m³Natural. About as clean as outdoor air realistically gets.
  • 3–5µg/m³Clean. Crisp, destination-worthy air.
  • 5–9µg/m³Good. Clean city air; most people will not notice anything today.
  • 9–15µg/m³Elevated. Usually no big deal today; sensitive lungs may notice hard exercise.
  • 15–35µg/m³Polluted. Smoke or traffic pollution is now worth acting on.
  • 35–55µg/m³Unhealthy. Symptoms become more likely, especially with asthma or heart disease.
  • 55+µg/m³Severe. Everyone should reduce exposure and clean the indoor air.

Act four · Felt number

Cigarettes a week

A secondary feel for the particle load only — not a medical claim, and not a substitute for AQI.

4.4/wk

What is PM2.5?

Fine particles about 30× thinner than a human hair — small enough to slip through your lungs and into your bloodstream. We measure them inµg/m³: micrograms of particle mass in a cubic metre of air.

The math

PM2.5 here is 13.7 µg/m³.Berkeley Earth: 22 µg/m³ for 24 h ≈ 1 cigarette.A week at this level: 13.7/22 × 7 = 4.4 cigarettes.A long-term health-risk equivalence, not literal smoking.See how we work it out →
See the full method →