One of a series of highways in the area commissioned by then Governor Marvin Griffin (1), GA 311 is located in southwest Georgia north of Bainbridge. Extending 23.8 miles, the highway passes through Decatur and Mitchell Counties, forming an alternate route of GA 97 to the west. Locally known as East River Road, the highway roughly follows the Flint River along its entire length.

(1) Source: S.E.B.

GA 311 first appeared on the state highway system in 1959. The highway was only partially paved upon commissioning, with the paving dependent on what county it was in. In Decatur County, the highway was fully paved while in Mitchell County it was completely unpaved. Paving was not completed on the highway until 1963. GA 311 lended legitimacy to a stub end of GA 65 by giving it a highway to end into. Other than that, it serves no obvious purpose. This extremely rural highway remains largely unchanged since it was commissioned.