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Trip from Atlanta, GA to Dacula, GA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

47m

Distance

37.4 mi

60 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

capital city of Georgia, United States

Atlanta, GA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States of America

Dacula, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Atlanta, GA to Dacula, GA covers 37.4 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Northeast Expressway, University Parkway, Interstate Highway 85 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.4 miles on Northeast Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.85 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

18.7 miles from Atlanta, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 47m highway drive covering 37.4 miles, with most of the trip on Northeast Expressway and University Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.4 miles on Northeast Expressway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northeast Expressway and University Parkway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.4 miles you will encounter 7 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: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles (I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the ramp toward I 75 North, I 85 North

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
5
0.4 mi into trip | ~0m in | I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector

Merge onto I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
3.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 85 / Northeast Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway toward I 85 North: Greenville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 251B Toward I 85 North: Greenville
6
6.2 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 85 / Northeast Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85 / Northeast Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
24.8 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 106 Toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Atlanta, GA to Dacula, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Athens along the way.

Athens

24.8 mi in | ~30m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Northeast Expressway 12.4 mi 15m
University Parkway 10.2 mi 14m
Interstate Highway 85 8.8 mi 9m
Downtown Connector 3.1 mi 4m
Winder Highway 1.9 mi 2m
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast 0.1 mi <1m
Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast <0.1 mi <1m
Capitol Avenue Southeast <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Northeast Expressway — 12.4 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Dacula, GA.

1

Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast

69 ft · 1 sec · Capitol Avenue Southeast
2

Turn slight right

156 ft · 6 sec
3

Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast

257 ft · 7 sec · Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
4

Continue on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
6

Merge onto I 75; I 85

3.1 mi · 4 min · Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85

2.7 mi · 3 min · Northeast Expressway
Exit 251B Toward I 85 North: Greenville
8

Keep slight left at fork onto I 85

9.7 mi · 11 min · Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 85

8.8 mi · 9 min · Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Exit 106 Toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens
11

Continue on GA 316

10 mi · 14 min · University Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn left onto US 29 Business; GA 8

1.9 mi · 2 min · Winder Highway
13

Arrive at destination

US 29 Business; GA 8

Trip Plan

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 18.7 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.4 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 37.4 miles or 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.7 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dacula, GA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Atlanta, 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 Atlanta, GA

This is one driving day of about 37.4 miles and 47m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Atlanta, 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 Northeast Expressway for about 12.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.7 mi from Atlanta, GA · 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cleveland, TN

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

Cleveland, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cleveland, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dacula, GA

The final approach into Dacula, 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 Dacula, 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

$5.85 one way

$11.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $6.39 $12.79
premium $4.70 $6.92 $13.84
diesel $5.61 $8.26 $16.51

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, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.2 0 $3.93 $1.80
Efficient EV 9.4 0 $3.27 $1.50
EV Truck/SUV 15 0 $5.24 $2.39

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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour from now

Origin

Atlanta, GA

Morning in Atlanta on Wednesday

Local time

8:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dacula, GA

Morning in Dacula on Wednesday

Local time

8:15 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

77°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

21 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

47m 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 Atlanta, GA to Dacula, GA covers 37.4 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Expressway, University Parkway, Interstate Highway 85. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.7 miles from Atlanta, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.85 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.4 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 0.4 miles (I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.5 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Atlanta, GA to Dacula, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Athens along the way.

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