Origin
Doraville, GA
Afternoon in Doraville on Saturday
Local time
2:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Doraville, GA to Gainesville, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
41.8 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Doraville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Gainesville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Doraville to Gainesville is 41.8 miles and takes about 50 minutes via Lanier Parkway and I-85, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast. It's a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it an easy choice for a short, single-day excursion. If you're looking for a quick hop with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill. Consider it for a commute or a brief escape without a major time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lanier Parkway | 19.7 mi | 21m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Queen City Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Northeast Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| I 85 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| New Peachtree Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Buford Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lanier Parkway
— 19.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Doraville, GA and Gainesville, GA.
1
Start on this road
55 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left
47 ft
·
5 sec
3
Turn right onto New Peachtree Road
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
New Peachtree Road
4
Turn right onto Park Avenue
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Park Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 23; GA 13
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Buford Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right
191 ft
·
7 sec
7
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 285 South
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
525 ft
·
12 sec
Toward I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
11
Merge onto I 85
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
Northeast Expressway
12
Continue on I 85
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 85
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 985
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Lanier Parkway
Exit 113
Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Use the slight right lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto GA 60
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Queen City Parkway
17
Turn right onto GA 60; GA 369
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest
18
Turn right onto Green Street
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Green Street
19
Arrive at destination
Green Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.9 miles from Doraville, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 39 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Turn left onto US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 85 North: Greenville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Greenville
8
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Roa...
8
19.3 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 985 / Lanier Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 985 / Lanier Parkway toward I 985 North: Gainesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 113
Toward I 985 North: Gainesville
8
39 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.54 one way
$13.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $7.15 | $14.29 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.23 | $18.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| Efficient EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.66 | $1.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.85 | $2.68 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Gainesville, GA
Afternoon in Gainesville on Saturday
Local time
2:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
27 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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of fast driving, including a significant 19.7-mile segment primarily on Lanier Parkway. The route transitions onto Interstate 85 before concluding on Queen City Parkway. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, characterized by the efficiency of highway travel. The road primarily offers a functional driving experience rather than a scenic one.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.7 mi on Lanier Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lanier Parkway and Interstate Highway 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 41.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 50m. Total distance: 41.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.7 miles on Lanier Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Gainesville, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 23; GA 13 / Buford Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gainesville, GA before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Gainesville, GA
More trips to Gainesville, GA
Explore more options from Doraville, GA or browse trips ending in Gainesville, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.