Origin
Atlanta, GA
Morning in Atlanta on Monday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA
Drive Time
1h 42m
Distance
89.3 mi
144 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 34m
★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlanta, GA
Kelly
Dalton, GA
Mr. Location Scout
Trip Overview
The drive from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA covers 89.3 miles and takes about 1h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast, Martin Luther King Jr, I 75 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.29 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
44.6 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 42m drive with frequent turns across 89.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA is easy. At 1h 42m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Martin Luther King Jr | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 75 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown Connector | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Horace E Tate Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| GA 52 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dalton | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Dalton, GA.
1
Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast
69 ft
·
1 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
2
Turn slight right
154 ft
·
7 sec
3
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
256 ft
·
7 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
4
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
5
Take the ramp left toward I 75 North, I 85 North
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 75 North, I 85 North
6
Merge slight left onto Downtown Connector
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Downtown Connector
7
Keep slight right to continue on Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Horace E Tate Freeway
8
Continue on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left to continue on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
65 mi
·
1 hr 10 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit slight right toward GA 52: Walnut Avenue, Dalton
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
GA 52: Walnut Avenue, Dalton
11
Keep slight right to continue on Dalton, Georgia Department of Driver Services
131 ft
·
3 sec
·
Dalton, Georgia Department of Driver Services
12
Turn straight onto West Walnut Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Walnut Avenue
13
Turn left onto South Thornton Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Thornton Avenue
14
Turn right onto West Cuyler Street
456 ft
·
20 sec
·
West Cuyler Street
15
Arrive at your destination
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 44.6 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 51m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.6 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dalton, 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 89.3 miles and 1h 42m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.6 mi from Atlanta, GA · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.6 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dalton, GA
The final approach into Dalton, 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 Dalton, 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
$14.29 one way
$28.58 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $15.57 | $31.14 |
| premium | $4.78 | $16.80 | $33.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $19.84 | $39.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.38 | $4.29 |
| Efficient EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.7 | 0 | $12.50 | $5.72 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Dalton, GA
Morning in Dalton on Monday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m 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 Dalton, GA covers 89.3 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast, Martin Luther King Jr, I 75 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.6 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 $14.29 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.
The drive from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA is easy. At 1h 42m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Atlanta, GA to Dalton, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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