Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
43 mi
69 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alpharetta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Monroe, GA
Wikimedia Commons
This 43-mile drive from Alpharetta, GA to Monroe, GA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 12 minutes. It’s a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You’ll spend about 41% of your time on highways, with the bulk of the journey utilizing Sugarloaf Parkway and US 78. The estimated fuel cost for this relatively short route is around $7, making it an economical option for a quick getaway within the Southeast region. This drive offers a mixed experience, blending some highway speeds with more local road travel.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 43 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
The drive presents a mixed profile, meaning you won't be solely on the interstate or exclusively on winding country roads. Approximately 41% of this route involves highway driving, offering stretches where you can pick up speed. The longest continuous section without a significant change in road type is 8 miles on Sugarloaf Parkway. As you transition onto US 78 and Duluth Highway, expect the character of the drive to shift, incorporating more local traffic and potentially varied speed limits. This blend makes for an engaging, rather than monotonous, driving experience.
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (State Bridge Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (Howell Ferry 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
Keep slight right at fork onto State Bridge Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Howell Ferry Road
Lane positioning matters here
Enter roundabout onto West Lawrenceville Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward GA 11: Monroe, Winder
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sugarloaf Parkway | 8 mi | 13m |
| US 78 | 6 mi | 8m |
| Duluth Highway | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| State Bridge Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Loganville Highway | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Atlanta Highway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Old Milton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Grayson Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Alpharetta, GA and Monroe, GA.
Start on Academy Street
Turn left onto GA 9
Turn left onto GA 120
Continue on GA 120
Keep slight right at fork onto State Bridge Road
Continue on Pleasant Hill Road
Turn left onto Howell Ferry Road
Continue on McClure Bridge Road
Enter roundabout onto West Lawrenceville Street
Continue on West Lawrenceville Street
Continue on GA 120
Turn right onto Sugarloaf Parkway
Turn right onto GA 20
Continue on GA 20
Continue on GA 20
Continue on GA 20
Turn left onto US 78; GA 10; GA 81
Continue on US 78; GA 10
Continue on US 78; GA 10
Take the exit
Turn straight onto GA 11
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.5 mi from Alpharetta, GA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Alpharetta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Monroe, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.72 one way
$13.45 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.96 | $15.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
Afternoon in Alpharetta on Friday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Monroe on Friday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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