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Trip from Atlanta, GA to Arcade, GA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 15m

Distance

63.6 mi

102 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m

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

Downtown Arcade, GA, GA

Arcade, GA

RDNE Stock project

Trip Overview

The drive from Atlanta, GA to Arcade, GA covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 85, Interstate Highway 85, Northeast Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.1 miles on I 85. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.95 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 15m. Total distance: 63.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 15m highway drive covering 63.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 85 and Interstate Highway 85. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.1 miles on I 85.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Interstate Highway 85. 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 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 63.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 3.5 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.2 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 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
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.
7
31.8 mi into trip | ~37m in | I 85

Keep slight right at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 North: Gainesville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 85 North: Gainesville
6
63.5 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | US 129 Business; GA 15 Alternate / Athens Highway

At end of road, turn right onto US 129 Business; GA 15 Alternate / Athens Highway

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

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 Arcade, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Jefferson along the way.

Jefferson

55.4 mi in | ~1h 2m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 85 24.1 mi 25m
Interstate Highway 85 15.4 mi 16m
Northeast Expressway 12.4 mi 15m
US 129 7.4 mi 10m
Downtown Connector 3.1 mi 4m
GA 82 0.3 mi <1m
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast 0.1 mi <1m
Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 85 — 24.1 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Arcade, 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

15 mi · 16 min · Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 85

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I 85
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 85

24 mi · 25 min · I 85
Toward I 85 North: Gainesville Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward US 129, GA 11: Gainesville, Jefferson
13

Merge onto US 129; GA 11

7.4 mi · 10 min · US 129; GA 11
14

Take the exit

501 ft · 13 sec
15

Continue on GA 82

0.3 mi · 34 sec · GA 82
16

At end of road, turn right onto US 129 Business; GA 15 Alternate

135 ft · 8 sec · Athens Highway
17

Turn left onto Wyatt Street

75 ft · 4 sec · Wyatt Street
18

Turn right onto Peppers Street

90 ft · 3 sec · Peppers Street
19

Arrive at destination

Peppers Street

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31.8 mi from Atlanta, GA · 37m into the drive

city in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lilburn, GA

32 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

North Atlanta, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Buford, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31.8 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Arcade, GA

The final approach into Arcade, 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

$9.95 one way

$19.89 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.87 $21.75
premium $4.70 $11.77 $23.54
diesel $5.61 $14.04 $28.08

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.1 0 $6.68 $3.05
Efficient EV 15.9 0 $5.56 $2.54
EV Truck/SUV 25.4 0 $8.90 $4.07

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Atlanta, GA

Morning in Atlanta on Friday

Local time

10:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Arcade, GA

Morning in Arcade on Friday

Local time

10:47 AM

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 15m 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 Arcade, GA covers 63.6 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 85, Interstate Highway 85, Northeast Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 31.8 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 $9.95 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 63.6 miles you will encounter 13 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 3.5 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.2 miles (I 85 / Northeast Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

On the drive from Atlanta, GA to Arcade, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Jefferson 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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