Origin
Alpharetta, GA
Evening in Alpharetta on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alpharetta, GA to Gainesville, GA
Drive Time
52m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alpharetta, GA
Ramaz Bluashvili
Gainesville, GA
Jamie Kimball
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Alpharetta and Gainesville, Georgia, expect a straightforward 37.5-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfect for a quick one-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budget roughly $6 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Navigating this route involves a combination of Turner McDonald Parkway, Dawsonville Highway, and Keith Bridge Road. It is an efficient connection that works well for those looking to reach their destination quickly without a long haul on the road.
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
18.8 miles from Alpharetta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed profile, balancing faster highway travel with more localized road segments. You will spend about 50% of your time on highways, providing a steady rhythm before transitioning to different road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 16.2 miles along the Turner McDonald Parkway. As you move away from the initial highway portions, the character of the drive shifts, requiring you to remain attentive to changing road conditions. It is a functional drive that moves you steadily through the region without being overly monotonous or excessively technical.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Turner McDonald Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 37.5 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
GA 9 / South Main Street
Turn left onto GA 9 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward US 19 North, GA 400 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 19 North, GA 400 North
7
18.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward GA 306: Gainesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward GA 306: Gainesville
6
18.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
GA 53 / Dawsonville Highway
Turn right onto GA 53 / Dawsonville Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Turner McDonald Parkway | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Dawsonville Highway | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Keith Bridge Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Old Milton Parkway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| John W Morrow Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Academy Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Turner McDonald Parkway
— 16.2 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alpharetta, GA and Gainesville, GA.
1
Start on Academy Street
139 ft
·
11 sec
·
Academy Street
2
Turn left onto GA 9
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
South Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto GA 120
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 19 North, GA 400 North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 19; GA 400
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 17
Toward GA 306: Gainesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
87 ft
·
3 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto GA 306
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Keith Bridge Road
Use the none lane.
9
Turn right onto GA 53
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Dawsonville Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on GA 53 Connector
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
John W Morrow Parkway
11
Turn left onto GA 60; GA 369
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Green Street
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Green Street
13
Arrive at destination
Green Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a short, 52-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 37.5-mile trip without needing any scheduled stops, making it a very low-maintenance journey. Since there are no required stops, use the time saved to focus on navigating the transition between the Turner McDonald Parkway and the local segments like Keith Bridge Road. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind, but otherwise, enjoy the freedom that comes with such a brief, direct route. Planning is minimal here, allowing you to focus on the road ahead rather than complex logistics.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 18.8 miles from Alpharetta, GA, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.2 miles.
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 37.5 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.8 miles or 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gainesville, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 37.5 miles and 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Alpharetta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Turner McDonald Parkway for about 16.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.8 mi from Alpharetta, GA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Alpharetta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Gainesville, GA
The final approach into Gainesville, 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 Gainesville, GA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.00 one way
$12.00 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $6.54 | $13.08 |
| premium | $4.78 | $7.05 | $14.11 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.33 | $16.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Gainesville, GA
Evening in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
64°F
Cleveland, TN
19 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
52m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alpharetta, GA to Gainesville, GA covers 37.5 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Turner McDonald Parkway, Dawsonville Highway, Keith Bridge Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.8 miles from Alpharetta, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 37.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Alpharetta, GA to Gainesville, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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