Trip from Decatur, GA to Roswell, GA

Drive Time

36m

Distance

22.1 mi

36 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 33m ★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 43m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 38m
3 PM
0h 39m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 35m

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

Downtown Decatur, GA, GA

Decatur, GA

Ivanna Di Lorenzo

Downtown Roswell, GA, GA

Roswell, GA

Dmitry Daltonik

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Decatur to Roswell, you are looking at a straightforward 22.1-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect the drive to take approximately 36 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via T Harvey Mathis Parkway, Turner McDonald Parkway, and North Druid Hills Road. With fuel costs estimated at $4, this is a budget-friendly excursion. Because both locations are situated within Georgia, you will remain in the Southeast region throughout the entire trip. This route offers a practical, efficient way to connect these two points without any necessary stops.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

11 miles from Decatur, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 18m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip features a mixed drive profile, balancing local navigation with faster transit. You will spend about 55% of your time on highways, providing a blend of suburban flow and more direct road segments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 6.2 miles along T Harvey Mathis Parkway, which serves as a significant portion of the drive. As you transition between the parkways and North Druid Hills Road, the road’s personality shifts from higher-speed highway stretches to more localized driving. It is a functional route that keeps you moving steadily toward your destination without much deviation.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
T Harvey Mathis Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Ponce de Leon Avenue.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 22.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ponce de Leon Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Clairemont Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East Ponce de Leon Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto East Ponce de Leon Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Clairemont Avenue

Turn right onto Clairemont Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
6.5 mi into trip | ~12m in

Keep slight right at fork toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming
7
18.1 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward Northridge Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 6 Toward Northridge Road
8
18.4 mi into trip | ~28m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Dunwoody Place

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Dunwoody Place

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Decatur, GA to Roswell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Cumming along the way.

Cumming

6.4 mi in | ~12m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
T Harvey Mathis Parkway 6.2 mi 7m
Turner McDonald Parkway 5 mi 6m
North Druid Hills Road 2.1 mi 4m
Clairmont Road 1.9 mi 2m
Roswell Road 1.7 mi 3m
Dunwoody Place 1.2 mi 2m
Clairemont Avenue 1.1 mi 2m
Northeast Expressway 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: T Harvey Mathis Parkway — 6.2 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, GA and Roswell, GA.

1

Start on this road

287 ft · 26 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto East Ponce de Leon Avenue

188 ft · 7 sec · East Ponce de Leon Avenue
3

Turn right onto Clairemont Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · Clairemont Avenue
Use the none lane.
4

Continue on US 23; GA 155

1.9 mi · 2 min · Clairmont Road
Use the none lane.
5

Turn left onto North Druid Hills Road

2.1 mi · 4 min · North Druid Hills Road
Use the none lane.
6

Turn slight left

182 ft · 10 sec
Use the left lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec
8

Merge onto I 85

0.9 mi · 1 min · Northeast Expressway
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 86 Toward GA 13 South, GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming
10

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 49 sec
Toward GA 400 North: Buckhead, Cumming Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto GA 400

6.2 mi · 7 min · T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on GA 400

5.0 mi · 6 min · Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the none / right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 47 sec
Exit 6 Toward Northridge Road Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Toward Dunwoody Place Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Turn right onto Dunwoody Place

1.2 mi · 2 min · Dunwoody Place
Use the right lane.
16

Turn right onto GA 9

1.7 mi · 3 min · Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
17

Continue on GA 9; GA 120

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Atlanta Street
Use the none lane.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto GA 9; GA 120

393 ft · 9 sec · North Atlanta Street
19

Arrive at destination

GA 9; GA 120

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 36-minute trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the 22.1-mile distance in one go, as there are no required stops planned for this route. Keep in mind that traffic patterns often fluctuate on major parkways, so checking local conditions before you head out is a smart move. Because the total fuel cost is quite low at $4, you won't need to stress about budgeting for frequent fill-ups. A pro tip for this specific drive is to keep a close eye on your navigation when switching between the Turner McDonald Parkway and North Druid Hills Road to ensure a smooth transition.

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 11 miles from Decatur, GA, or about 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.2 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 22.1 miles or 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 11 miles or 18m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 29m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Decatur, 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 Decatur, GA

This is one driving day of about 22.1 miles and 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Decatur, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on T Harvey Mathis Parkway for about 6.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 11 mi from Decatur, GA · 18m into the drive

Downtown Centre, AL, AL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Centre, AL

11 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

Cleveland, TN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Centre, AL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 11 miles from Decatur, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Roswell, GA

The final approach into Roswell, 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 Roswell, 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

$3.54 one way

$7.07 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 8 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $3.85 $7.71
premium $4.78 $4.16 $8.31
diesel $5.64 $4.91 $9.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$4

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$29–$54

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 6.6 0 $2.32 $1.06
Efficient EV 5.5 0 $1.93 $0.88
EV Truck/SUV 8.8 0 $3.09 $1.41

Gas CO2

8 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (63% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Decatur, GA

Night in Decatur on Sunday

Local time

9:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Roswell, GA

Night in Roswell on Sunday

Local time

9:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

1 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

36m 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 Decatur, GA to Roswell, GA covers 22.1 miles and takes about 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are T Harvey Mathis Parkway, Turner McDonald Parkway, North Druid Hills Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11 miles from Decatur, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.54 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 22.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ponce de Leon Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.1 miles (Clairemont Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Decatur, GA to Roswell, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Cumming along the way.

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