Origin
Cardinal Lake Estates, GA
Late night in Cardinal Lake Estates on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA to Norcross, GA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
12m
Distance
6 mi
10 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norcross, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA to Norcross, GA covers 6 miles and takes about 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Buford Highway, Creek Drive Northwest, South Cemetery Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 4.6 miles on Buford Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.94 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
3 miles from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 12m drive with frequent turns across 6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Buford Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 4.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,063 ft
948 ft
Total Climb
152 ft
Total Descent
100 ft
Highest Point
1,063 ft
~2.2 mi in
Elevation Range
115 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mockingbird Circle.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 12m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mockingbird Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Blue Jay Drive Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mockingbird Circle
Turn right onto Mockingbird Circle
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Blue Jay Drive Northwest
Turn left onto Blue Jay Drive Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Navigation decision point
4
5.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
South Cemetery Street
Turn right onto South Cemetery Street
Navigation decision point
4
6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
South Peachtree Street
Turn right onto South Peachtree Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buford Highway | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Creek Drive Northwest | 0.9 mi | 3m |
| South Cemetery Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mockingbird Circle | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Blue Jay Drive Northwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Cardinal Lake Circle Northwest | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Peachtree Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Buford Highway
— 4.6 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cardinal Lake Estates, GA and Norcross, GA.
1
Start on Cardinal Lake Circle Northwest
218 ft
·
10 sec
·
Cardinal Lake Circle Northwest
2
Turn right onto Mockingbird Circle
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Mockingbird Circle
3
Turn left onto Blue Jay Drive Northwest
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Blue Jay Drive Northwest
4
Continue on Creek Drive Northwest
0.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Creek Drive Northwest
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 23; GA 13
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Buford Highway
6
Turn right onto South Cemetery Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Cemetery Street
7
Turn right onto South Peachtree Street
52 ft
·
1 sec
·
South Peachtree Street
8
Arrive at destination
South Peachtree Street
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 3 miles from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 4.6 miles.
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 6 miles or 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Norcross, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Cardinal Lake Estates, GA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA
This is one driving day of about 6 miles and 12m.
At 6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Buford Highway for about 4.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 3 mi from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA · 7m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 3 miles from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Norcross, GA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Norcross, 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
$0.94 one way
$1.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $1.03 | $2.05 |
| premium | $4.70 | $1.11 | $2.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.32 | $2.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.63 | $0.29 |
| Efficient EV | 1.5 | 0 | $0.52 | $0.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.84 | $0.38 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Norcross, GA
Late night in Norcross on Thursday
Local time
12:20 AM
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
39 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
12m 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 Cardinal Lake Estates, GA to Norcross, GA covers 6 miles and takes about 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Buford Highway, Creek Drive Northwest, South Cemetery Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3 miles from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $0.94 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 is a straightforward 12m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mockingbird Circle): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Blue Jay Drive Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Cardinal Lake Estates, GA to Norcross, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 948 ft to 1,063 ft elevation with about 152 ft of total climbing.
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