Arba minch to Addis by car

Very doubtful. Is your check in 1 30.
you would need to leave at cracking of dawn..not just early...
it is a much longer drive than it looks on a map.

Yes infact the plan would be to leave at 0500. We can be at airport at 1400 the latest

That should b ok then!

It sounds possible but could be quite close. I am not sure which route you are planning to take, but be aware that there is very extensive construction being done on the highway south of Awassa, and last month it more than doubled my transit time on the stretch between Yirgalem and Awassa (and apparently the construction continued south), e.g. 40 km took well over an hour by private car, and 1.5 hours in a minivan. Probably more of the time was spent on the diversions than on the actual highway bed, and there were extensive delays for trucks to pass through. Probably you wouldn't go this route, if you go to Awassa via Sodo and Alaba Kulito.

North of Awassa, the road was very good, and it took us about 5 hours to get from Awassa to Addis. It was extremely slow from around Bishoftu into Addis--almost bumper to bumper.

Likewise, leaving Addis on the southeast on the Jimma/Butajira road, there were very long delays in both directions, adding about 90 minutes to the trip, with us stopped a lot for construction.

You would not go thru Yirgalem OR Hawassa..... There are roadworks between AM and Shasamane but not too bad..
shasamane to Mojo is ok.
when u get to Mojo make sure the driver than goes on the new Expressway to Addis.
see google maps of Ethiopia.
The express way ends at tulu dimtu on the southern ouskirts of Addis. From there to airport..35 mins IF U R lucky.....but can be a lot more. ..
good luck..

You need 7 to 8 Hours to reach Addis Ababa. Please don’t take the risk. If your car is broken on the way pretty sure you will be get in Addis the next day. Don’t plan a short schedule if you travel in Ethiopia. Very risky.

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