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Trip from Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

171.9 mi

277 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county seat in Crisp County, Georgia, USA

Cordele, GA

Wikimedia Commons

city in north Fulton County, Georgia, United States

Alpharetta, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA covers 171.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I-75 North, Larry Justice Highway, I 75 North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.88 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

86 miles from Cordele, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 45m drive with frequent turns across 171.9 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.
I-75 North 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA is easy. At 2h 45m 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 Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I-75 North
Larry Justice Highway
I 75 North
Northeast Expressway
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Turner McDonald Parkway
Alpharetta
Haynes Bridge Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: I-75 North — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cordele, GA and Alpharetta, GA.

1

Start on 16th Avenue East

1.9 mi · 4 min · 16th Avenue East
2

Turn left onto I-75 North: Macon

0.3 mi · 42 sec · I-75 North: Macon
3

Merge slight left

55 mi · 59 min
4

Keep slight left to continue on Larry Justice Highway

16 mi · 17 min · Larry Justice Highway
5

Merge slight right

49 mi · 53 min
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham

23 mi · 28 min · I 75 North: Atlanta, Birmingham
7

Keep slight left to continue on Northeast Expressway

2.7 mi · 3 min · Northeast Expressway
8

Keep slight right to continue on T Harvey Mathis Parkway

7.1 mi · 8 min · T Harvey Mathis Parkway
9

Continue on Turner McDonald Parkway

11 mi · 13 min · Turner McDonald Parkway
10

Take the exit slight right toward Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge Road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Alpharetta, Haynes Bridge Road
11

Turn left onto Haynes Bridge Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Haynes Bridge Road
12

Turn left onto Old Milton Parkway

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Old Milton Parkway
13

Turn right onto South Main Street

0.3 mi · 53 sec · South Main Street
14

Turn right onto Academy Street

138 ft · 4 sec · Academy 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86 miles from Cordele, GA, or about 1h 22m 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 38 miles or 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86 miles or 1h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alpharetta, GA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Cordele, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cordele, GA

This is one driving day of about 171.9 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Cordele, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86 mi from Cordele, GA · 1h 22m into the drive

town in Henry County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Stockbridge, GA

86 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.

Popular next leg

Stockbridge, GA to Alpharetta, GA

49.6 mi · 1h 2m

Pacing Suggestions

Centerville, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Stockbridge, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86 miles from Cordele, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Alpharetta, GA

The final approach into Alpharetta, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Alpharetta, GA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.88 one way

$53.76 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $29.39 $58.78
premium $4.70 $31.82 $63.63
diesel $5.61 $37.95 $75.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.6 0 $18.05 $8.25
Efficient EV 43 0 $15.04 $6.88
EV Truck/SUV 68.8 0 $24.07 $11.00

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Cordele, GA

Evening in Cordele on Wednesday

Local time

5:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

78°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Alpharetta, GA

Evening in Alpharetta on Wednesday

Local time

5:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

26 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

2h 45m 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 Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA covers 171.9 miles and takes about 2h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I-75 North, Larry Justice Highway, I 75 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86 miles from Cordele, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.88 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA is easy. At 2h 45m 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 Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cordele, GA to Alpharetta, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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