Origin
California, GA
Afternoon in California on Friday
Local time
2:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from California, GA to Alpharetta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
31.3 mi
50 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 55m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
0h 59m
5 PM
1h 4m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
California, GA
Lesli Whitecotton
Alpharetta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from California, GA to Alpharetta, GA covers 31.3 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Roswell Road, Dallas Highway, Alpharetta Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.7 miles on Roswell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 31.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 55m drive with frequent turns across 31.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Roswell Road is the longest continuous segment at about 8.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 4 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near GA 120 / Charles Hardy Parkway.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31.3 miles you will encounter 4 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 0.5 miles (GA 120 / Charles Hardy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (GA 9; GA 120 / North Atlanta Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles (GA 9; GA 120 / Alpharetta Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
4 of 4 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
GA 120 / Charles Hardy Parkway
Turn right onto GA 120 / Charles Hardy Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
24.9 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
GA 9; GA 120 / North Atlanta Street
Turn left onto GA 9; GA 120 / North Atlanta Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
25.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
GA 9; GA 120 / Alpharetta Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 9; GA 120 / Alpharetta Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
31.3 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Academy Street
Turn right onto Academy Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Roswell Road | 8.7 mi | 15m |
| Dallas Highway | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| Alpharetta Highway | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| Whitlock Avenue Northwest | 3 mi | 6m |
| Marietta Highway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Roswell Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Charles Hardy Parkway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Roswell Road
— 8.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between California, GA and Alpharetta, GA.
1
Start on GA 92
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Hiram Acworth Highway
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn right onto GA 120
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Charles Hardy Parkway
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on GA 120
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Dallas Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on GA 120
3.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Whitlock Avenue Northwest
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Continue on South Park Square
343 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Park Square
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Roswell Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Roswell Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on GA 3 Connector
8.7 mi
·
15 min
·
Roswell Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on GA 120
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Marietta Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Turn left onto GA 9; GA 120
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Atlanta Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 9; GA 120
4.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Alpharetta Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on GA 9; GA 120
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Turn right onto Academy Street
139 ft
·
3 sec
·
Academy Street
13
Arrive at destination
Academy Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 15.6 mi from California, GA · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from California, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alpharetta, GA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Alpharetta, GA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.89 one way
$9.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.35 | $10.70 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.79 | $11.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Alpharetta, GA
Afternoon in Alpharetta on Friday
Local time
2:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
W 10 mph
0% chance
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
32 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
55m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from California, GA to Alpharetta, GA covers 31.3 miles and takes about 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Roswell Road, Dallas Highway, Alpharetta Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 15.6 miles from California, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.89 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 31.3 miles you will encounter 4 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 0.5 miles (GA 120 / Charles Hardy Parkway): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (GA 9; GA 120 / North Atlanta Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.5 miles (GA 9; GA 120 / Alpharetta Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from California, GA to Alpharetta, 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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