Origin
Bowdon, GA
Night in Bowdon on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bowdon, GA to Sandy Springs, GA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
71.3 mi
115 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bowdon, GA
Joshua Brown
Trip Overview
This 71.3-mile drive from Bowdon, GA to Sandy Springs, GA takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes. It's a straightforward day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 61% of it on major roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $11, this is an economical option for getting between these two Georgia locations. You'll spend most of your time on the Tom Murphy Freeway and the Atlanta Bypass, also known as The Perimeter. This journey stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent travel experience.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 71.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 61% of the mileage on major roadways. You'll encounter a significant 43.4-mile stretch on the Tom Murphy Freeway, offering a consistent pace. The route progresses through a mix of freeway and potentially some surface street sections as you approach your destination. While largely on the Atlanta Bypass and Tom Murphy Freeway, be prepared for potential traffic variations common on such urban routes. This drive is designed for efficient travel between points.
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.
Tom Murphy Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 43.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Tom Murphy Freeway and Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 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 71.3 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 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
10.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
5
10.9 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward GA 70: Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Fulton County Airport
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 49
Toward GA 70: Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Fult...
7
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Turn left toward I 285 North
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 285 North
7
68.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward Riverside Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
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 Bowdon, GA to Sandy Springs, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Fulton County Airport along the way.
Fulton County Airport
54.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Murphy Freeway | 43.4 mi | 47m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 11.1 mi | 12m |
| Rome Street | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Fulton Industrial Boulevard Northwest | 2 mi | 3m |
| Mount Vernon Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Carroll Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Heards Ferry Road Northwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Fulton Industrial Boulevard Southwest | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tom Murphy Freeway
— 43.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bowdon, GA and Sandy Springs, GA.
1
Start on GA 100
112 ft
·
4 sec
·
Wedowee Street
2
Continue on GA 100
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Carroll Street
3
Continue on GA 100
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Rome Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 20
43 mi
·
47 min
·
Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
Exit 49
Toward GA 70: Fulton Industrial Boulevard, Fulton County Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on GA 70
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Fulton Industrial Boulevard Southwest
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on GA 70
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Fulton Industrial Boulevard Northwest
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto US 78; US 278; GA 8
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway Northwest
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 285 North
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 285
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
134 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Riverside Drive
14
Turn slight right
214 ft
·
6 sec
15
Turn right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
478 ft
·
14 sec
·
Riverside Drive Northwest
16
Turn slight right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Riverside Drive Northwest
17
Turn right onto Heards Ferry Road Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Heards Ferry Road Northwest
18
Turn left onto Mount Vernon Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Vernon Highway
19
Arrive at destination
Mount Vernon Highway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.7 mi from Bowdon, GA · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 35.7 miles from Bowdon, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sandy Springs, GA
The final approach into Sandy Springs, 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
$11.15 one way
$22.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.19 | $24.38 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.20 | $26.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.74 | $31.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 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 | 21.4 | 0 | $7.49 | $3.42 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Sandy Springs, GA
Night in Sandy Springs on Thursday
Local time
10:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
5 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 26m 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 Bowdon, GA to Sandy Springs, GA covers 71.3 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Tom Murphy Freeway, Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, Rome Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.7 miles from Bowdon, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.15 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 71.3 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 10.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.9 miles (I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bowdon, GA to Sandy Springs, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Fulton County Airport along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sandy Springs, GA
More trips to Sandy Springs, GA
Explore more options from Bowdon, GA or browse trips ending in Sandy Springs, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.
Explore maps for Bowdon, GA or Sandy Springs, GA on MapSof.net.