Origin
Alpharetta, GA
Evening in Alpharetta on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Sign in
No account yet?
Create accountDrive Time
36m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alpharetta, GA
Ramaz Bluashvili
Buford, GA
RDNE Stock project
The drive from Alpharetta, GA to Buford, GA covers 20.4 miles and takes about 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, McGinnis Ferry Road, Old Milton Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 5.5 miles on Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.26 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
10.2 miles from Alpharetta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Expect a 36m drive with frequent turns across 20.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near GA 9 / South Main Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 20.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles (Sargent Road): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto GA 9 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Sargent Road
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto Sargent Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto Sargent Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Peachtree Industrial Boulevard | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| McGinnis Ferry Road | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Old Milton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Sargent Road | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| Kimball Bridge Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| East Shadburn Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jones Bridge Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alpharetta, GA and Buford, GA.
Start on Academy Street
Turn left onto GA 9
Turn left onto GA 120
Take the exit
Turn left onto GA 120
Continue on GA 120
Turn left onto Jones Bridge Road
Turn right onto Sargent Road
Enter roundabout onto Sargent Road
Continue on Sargent Road
Continue on Sargent Road
Enter roundabout onto Sargent Road
Continue on Sargent Road
Turn right onto McGinnis Ferry Road
Continue on McGinnis Ferry Road
Turn left onto Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
Turn right onto R H Smith Boulevard
Turn left onto East Broad Street Northeast
Continue on East Shadburn Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto West Main Street
Continue on East Main Street Northeast
Turn right onto South Harris Street
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 20.4 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.2 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buford, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alpharetta, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alpharetta, GA
This is one driving day of about 20.4 miles and 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.2 mi from Alpharetta, GA · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 20.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 10.2 miles from Alpharetta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Buford, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Buford, GA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.26 one way
$6.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $3.56 | $7.11 |
| premium | $4.78 | $3.84 | $7.67 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.53 | $9.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Alpharetta on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Buford on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
64°F
Cleveland, TN
10 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Alpharetta, GA or browse trips ending in Buford, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.
Explore maps for Alpharetta, GA or Buford, GA on MapSof.net.