The drive from Atlanta, GA to Manchester, GA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Route 85, Oakland Road, I 75 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.1 miles on State Route 85.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.49 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.
Midpoint
33.5 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 38m highway drive covering 67.1 miles, with most of the trip on State Route 85 and Oakland Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 34.1 miles on State Route 85.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 85 and Oakland Road. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 (Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Washington Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Washington Street Southwest
Turn left onto Washington Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 South, I 85 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 South, I 85 South
6
4.3 mi into trip|~6m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
8.8 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward GA 85 South: Riverdale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 237A
Toward GA 85 South: Riverdale
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 85
34.1 mi
50m
Oakland Road
21.6 mi
30m
I 75
4.5 mi
5m
James Wendell George Parkway
2.3 mi
3m
Wrightsville Road
1.6 mi
2m
Downtown Connector
0.6 mi
<1m
Pulliam Street Southwest
0.6 mi
1m
Perry Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Route 85
— 34.1 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Manchester, GA.
1
Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast
195 ft·9 sec·Capitol Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
434 ft·16 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto Washington Street Southwest
0.4 mi·51 sec·Washington Street Southwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on Pulliam Street Southwest
0.6 mi·1 min·Pulliam Street Southwest
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 75 South, I 85 South
6
Merge onto I 75; I 85
0.6 mi·50 sec·Downtown Connector
7
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi·3 min·James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
4.5 mi·5 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 237AToward GA 85 South: RiverdaleUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on GA 85
34 mi·50 min·State Route 85
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on GA 74; GA 85; GA 362
22 mi·30 min·Oakland Road
12
Turn right onto Wrightsville Road
1.6 mi·2 min·Wrightsville Road
13
Turn right onto GA 85 Spur
0.6 mi·1 min·Perry Street
14
Arrive at destination
GA 85 Spur
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 33.5 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.1 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.5 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manchester, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Atlanta, GA
This is one driving day of about 67.1 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Atlanta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Route 85 for about 34.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.5 mi from Atlanta, GA
· 49m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$11.47
$22.95
premium
$4.70
$12.42
$24.84
diesel
$5.61
$14.81
$29.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.05
$3.22
Efficient EV
16.8
0
$5.87
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Atlanta, GA
Night
in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
9:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manchester, GA
Night
in Manchester on Friday
Local time
9:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Fayetteville, GA
34 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
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 38m 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 Manchester, GA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 85, Oakland Road, I 75. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.5 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 $10.49 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 67.1 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (Washington Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Atlanta, GA to Manchester, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
