Origin
Atlanta, GA
Night in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
9:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlanta, GA to Resaca, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
73.9 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Resaca, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Atlanta, GA to Resaca, GA is 73.9 miles and takes about 1h 24m via Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a local drive with frequent turns rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable distance, ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to explore locally without committing to a long haul.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 73.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route is characterized by its "turn-heavy local drive" profile, meaning you'll navigate through a series of turns and changes in direction. While there's a highway share of 10%, the majority of the journey involves more localized road conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.4 miles on the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before the local roads resume. Be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and speed as you make your way.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 62.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.9 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: 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 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese 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.
8
3.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
21.3 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
8
73.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward GA 136: Resaca, LaFayette
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 320
Toward GA 136: Resaca, LaFayette
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 Resaca, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Kennesaw along the way.
Kennesaw
21.3 mi in
|
~26m
|
via I 75
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 62.4 mi | 1h 8m |
| Horace E Tate Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Connector | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Resaca Beach Boulevard | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Battlefield Parkway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
— 62.4 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Resaca, 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 right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Horace E Tate Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 75
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
52 mi
·
56 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Use the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 320
Toward GA 136: Resaca, LaFayette
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto GA 136
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Resaca Beach Boulevard
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 41; GA 3; GA 136
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Battlefield Parkway
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto GA 136
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
Nicklesville Road Northeast
14
Arrive at destination
GA 136
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37 mi from Atlanta, GA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Larry McDonald Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.4 miles.
Arriving in Resaca, GA
The final approach into Resaca, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.56 one way
$23.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.64 | $25.27 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.68 | $27.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.32 | $32.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.76 | $3.55 |
| Efficient EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.47 | $2.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.35 | $4.73 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Resaca, GA
Night in Resaca on Friday
Local time
9:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
7 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 24m 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 Resaca, GA covers 73.9 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, Horace E Tate Freeway, Downtown Connector. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37 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 $11.56 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 73.9 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: 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 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Atlanta, GA to Resaca, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Kennesaw along the way.
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.
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