Origin
Atlanta, GA
Night in Atlanta on Thursday
Local time
11:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlanta, GA to Russell, GA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
51.6 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Russell, GA
Piotr Kowalonek
Trip Overview
The drive from Atlanta, GA to Russell, GA covers 51.6 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on University Parkway, Northeast Expressway, Interstate Highway 85 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 22 miles on University Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 51.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 51.6 miles, with most of the trip on University Parkway and Northeast Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 22 miles on University Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
University Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 22 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and Northeast Expressway. 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 51.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 11 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.
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 Russell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Athens along the way.
Athens
24.8 mi in
|
~30m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Parkway | 22 mi | 27m |
| Northeast Expressway | 12.4 mi | 15m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 8.8 mi | 9m |
| Downtown Connector | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Monroe Highway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Harry Mc Carty Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Harry McCarty Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Atlanta Highway Southeast | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
University Parkway
— 22 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Russell, 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
22 mi
·
27 min
·
University Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
419 ft
·
11 sec
Toward Harry McCarty Road
13
Turn slight left onto Harry McCarty Road
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Harry McCarty Road
14
Continue on Harry Mc Carty Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harry Mc Carty Road
15
Continue on Harry McCarty Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harry McCarty Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto GA 11
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Monroe Highway
17
Turn slight right
153 ft
·
5 sec
18
Turn slight right onto GA 8; GA 53
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
May Street
19
Continue on GA 8; GA 53
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Atlanta Highway Southeast
20
Turn left onto Russell Cemetery Road
414 ft
·
20 sec
·
Russell Cemetery Road
21
Turn right onto East Midland Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
East Midland Avenue
22
Turn left
236 ft
·
17 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.8 mi from Atlanta, GA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Russell, GA
The final approach into Russell, 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
$8.07 one way
$16.14 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.82 | $17.65 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.55 | $19.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.39 | $22.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 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 | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.22 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Russell, GA
Night in Russell on Thursday
Local time
11:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°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
28 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
1h 6m 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 Russell, GA covers 51.6 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are University Parkway, Northeast Expressway, 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 25.8 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 $8.07 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 51.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 Russell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Athens along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
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