The drive from Dunwoody, GA to Dade County, GA covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, I 24, I 59 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 96.1 miles on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.08 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
67.4 miles from Dunwoody, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 134.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 96.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in.
Route Complexity10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 134.8 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 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
2.3 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 West
8
9.1 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
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 I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
8
9.4 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
10.3 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
18.9 mi into trip|~24m in|I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dunwoody, GA and Dade County, GA, road signs point toward Marietta, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and Nashville.
Marietta
9.1 mi in|~12m
Chattanooga
9.1 mi in|~12m
Kennesaw
18.9 mi in|~24m|via I 75
Nashville
106.8 mi in|~2h
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
96.1 mi
1h 45m
I 24
16.7 mi
21m
I 59
7.6 mi
8m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
6.7 mi
8m
Ashford Dunwoody Road Northeast
1.7 mi
3m
Sells Lane
0.8 mi
2m
Lafayette Street
0.7 mi
1m
White Oak Gap Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
— 96.1 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunwoody, GA and Dade County, GA.
1
Start on this road
37 ft·3 sec·this road
2
Turn right
422 ft·15 sec
3
Continue on Mount Vernon Road
0.2 mi·31 sec·Mount Vernon Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto Ashford Dunwoody Road Northeast
1.7 mi·3 min·Ashford Dunwoody Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 285 WestUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
414 ft·10 sec
Toward I 285 WestUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 285
6.7 mi·8 min·Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·27 sec
Exit 20Toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 75
8.3 mi·9 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
88 mi·1 hr 35 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 24 West: Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 24
17 mi·21 min·I 24
Toward Chattanooga, NashvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·48 sec
Exit 167Toward I 59 South: BirminghamUse the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Continue on I 59
7.6 mi·8 min·I 59
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 11Toward GA 136: TrentonUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto GA 136
0.3 mi·43 sec·White Oak Gap Road
19
Turn right onto US 11; GA 58; GA 136
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Main Street
20
Turn left onto GA 136
0.7 mi·1 min·Lafayette Street
21
Turn right onto Sells Lane
0.8 mi·2 min·Sells Lane
22
Arrive at destination
Sells Lane
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 67.4 miles from Dunwoody, GA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.1 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 80 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.4 miles or 1h 17m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dade County, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dunwoody, 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 Dunwoody, GA
This is one driving day of about 134.8 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dunwoody, 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.
The longest stretch is on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway for about 96.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.4 mi from Dunwoody, GA
· 1h 17m into the drive
The midpoint is around 67.4 miles from Dunwoody, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Larry McDonald Memorial Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.1 miles.
Arriving in Dade County, GA
The final approach into Dade County, 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 Dade County, GA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$5
Park Closure: Island Ford Trail Closures Winter 2025-2026
Park Closure: Restrooms and Water Fountains Unavailable at Powers Island and Akers Mill
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 9.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.15
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.80
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.87
$8.63
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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
Dunwoody, GA
Late night
in Dunwoody on Wednesday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dade County, GA
Late night
in Dade County on Wednesday
Local time
12:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
28 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 37m 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 Dunwoody, GA to Dade County, GA covers 134.8 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, I 24, I 59. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.4 miles from Dunwoody, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.08 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 134.8 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 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dunwoody, GA and Dade County, GA, road signs point toward Marietta, Chattanooga, Kennesaw and Nashville.
