Origin
Atlanta, GA
Afternoon in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
4:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlanta, GA to Ellijay, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
78 mi
126 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 26m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Ellijay, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Atlanta, GA to Ellijay, GA covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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 $12.20 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
39 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 78 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 32m drive with frequent turns across 78 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Atlanta, GA to Ellijay, GA is easy. At 1h 32m 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 Ellijay, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast | — | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr | — | — |
| I 75 North | — | — |
| Downtown Connector | — | — |
| Horace E Tate Freeway | — | — |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | — | — |
| Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway | — | — |
| A P D Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Ellijay, 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 right to continue on Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
10
Continue on A P D Highway
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
A P D Highway
11
Continue on APD Highway
25 mi
·
30 min
·
APD Highway
12
Turn left onto 1st Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
1st Avenue
13
At the end of the road, turn left onto River Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
14
Turn right onto North Church Street
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Church 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 39 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 46m 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39 miles or 46m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ellijay, 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 78 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Atlanta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39 mi from Atlanta, GA · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ellijay, GA
The final approach into Ellijay, 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
$12.20 one way
$24.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.34 | $26.67 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.44 | $28.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.22 | $34.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.19 | $3.74 |
| Efficient EV | 19.5 | 0 | $6.82 | $3.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.92 | $4.99 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Ellijay, GA
Afternoon in Ellijay on Friday
Local time
4:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Canton, GA
39 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
5 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 32m 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 Ellijay, GA covers 78 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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 39 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 $12.20 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 Ellijay, GA is easy. At 1h 32m 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 Ellijay, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Atlanta, GA to Ellijay, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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