This 56.7-mile drive from DeKalb County, GA to Smyrna, GA is a straightforward, one-day trip that will take about 1 hour and 11 minutes. Primarily utilizing local roads like Purple Heart Highway, Greensboro Road, and South Main Street, with a 100% highway share, this route is best suited for a single day of travel. You can expect a fuel cost of around $9 for this journey through the Southeast region of Georgia. The overall feel of this drive is more of a turn-heavy local experience rather than a high-speed transit, making it a manageable and direct connection between these two points.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 56.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 56.7-mile journey. While classified as having a 100% highway share, this indicates the roads are paved and intended for vehicular traffic, not necessarily a high-speed interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 43.7 miles on Purple Heart Highway, after which the route transitions through Greensboro Road and South Main Street. This suggests a drive that requires consistent attention to navigation and speed adjustments as you navigate through various local communities and intersections.
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.
Purple Heart Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 43.7 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near US 278; GA 12 / Covington Highway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 56.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.9 miles (US 278; GA 12 / Covington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Wesley Chapel Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in|US 278; GA 12 / Covington Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 278; GA 12 / Covington Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in|Wesley Chapel Road
Turn right onto Wesley Chapel Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
4.6 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn left toward I 20 East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 20 East
5
5 mi into trip|~10m in|I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
48.7 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
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 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
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 DeKalb County, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
48.7 mi in|~57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
43.7 mi
46m
Greensboro Road
3 mi
4m
South Main Street
2.7 mi
5m
South Indian Creek Drive
1.8 mi
4m
Wesley Chapel Road
1.7 mi
2m
Monticello Highway
1.5 mi
2m
Covington Highway
1.1 mi
1m
GA 83
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 43.7 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between DeKalb County, GA and Smyrna, GA.
1
Start on Durham Park Road
127 ft·6 sec·Durham Park Road
2
Turn right onto South Indian Creek Drive
1.8 mi·4 min·South Indian Creek Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 278; GA 12
1.1 mi·1 min·Covington Highway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Wesley Chapel Road
1.7 mi·2 min·Wesley Chapel Road
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward I 20 EastUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 20
44 mi·46 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 113Toward GA 83: Madison, MonticelloUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi·2 min·Monticello Highway
9
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi·37 sec·GA 83
10
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
11
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft·3 sec·Eatonton Road
12
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi·4 min·Greensboro Road
14
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft·2 sec·Buckhead Road
15
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 28.4 mi from DeKalb County, GA
· 35m into the drive
The midpoint is around 28.4 miles from DeKalb County, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Smyrna, GA
The final approach into Smyrna, 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
$8.87 one way
$17.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg20 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$9.69
$19.39
premium
$4.70
$10.49
$20.99
diesel
$5.61
$12.52
$25.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
17
0
$5.95
$2.72
Efficient EV
14.2
0
$4.96
$2.27
EV Truck/SUV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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 14, 2026
Origin
DeKalb County, GA
Late night
in DeKalb County on Saturday
Local time
1:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 1:51PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:32PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Destination
Smyrna, GA
Late night
in Smyrna on Saturday
Local time
1:27 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 1:51PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:32PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
53°F
Oxford, GA
28 mi in
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 11m 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 DeKalb County, GA to Smyrna, GA covers 56.7 miles and takes about 1h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Highway, Greensboro Road, South Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 28.4 miles from DeKalb County, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.87 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 56.7 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.9 miles (US 278; GA 12 / Covington Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles (Wesley Chapel Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from DeKalb County, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
