This 78.5-mile drive from Ellijay, GA, to Atlanta, GA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 21 minutes. You'll be navigating local roads for the entire journey, with no highway driving involved. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $13, making it an economical option. Given its relatively short distance and turn-heavy nature, it's best suited for a relaxed pace rather than an overnight stay. This trip keeps you within the Southeast region, specifically within Georgia.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Ellijay, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 78.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 78.5-mile journey. Since the highway share is 0%, you won't encounter any high-speed interstate stretches. The route progresses through a series of local roads, including North Main Street, Northside Square, and River Street, meaning you'll be navigating town centers and connecting roads. The absence of a 'longest stretch' designation suggests frequent intersections and changes in direction, so staying attentive to your navigation is key throughout the drive.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
APD Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 24.8 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 0.2 miles in near GA 2; GA 52 / River Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (GA 2; GA 52 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 46.3 miles (I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|GA 2; GA 52 / River Street
Enter roundabout onto GA 2; GA 52 / River Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
46.3 mi into trip|~55m in|I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
77.7 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
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 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
6
78 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
78.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
APD Highway
24.8 mi
30m
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
21.1 mi
22m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
A P D Highway
10.1 mi
10m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.3 mi
8m
Downtown Connector
3 mi
4m
River Street
0.9 mi
2m
Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
APD Highway
— 24.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellijay, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on North Church Street
419 ft·24 sec·North Church Street
2
Turn left onto North Main Street
412 ft·15 sec·North Main Street
3
Enter roundabout onto GA 2; GA 52
311 ft·17 sec·River Street
4
Continue on GA 2; GA 52
0.9 mi·2 min·River Street
5
Turn slight right onto GA 2
443 ft·12 sec·GA 2
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the ramp
144 ft·3 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto GA 5; GA 515
25 mi·30 min·APD Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 575; GA 5
10 mi·10 min·A P D Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 575; GA 5
10 mi·10 min·Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5
11 mi·11 min·Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 75; GA 5
10 mi·11 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on I 75
7.3 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 75; I 85
3.0 mi·4 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Exit 248AToward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner FieldUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi·19 sec·Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft·6 sec·Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
With a total duration of about 1 hour and 21 minutes, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. Consider departing later in the morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Atlanta. Since there are no designated stops mentioned and the drive is relatively short, you can easily pause for a quick break or meal in one of the towns along the way if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is only $13, it's always wise to refuel before heading into Atlanta, especially if you plan to do extensive driving once you arrive.
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 39.1 miles from Ellijay, GA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.8 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellijay, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ellijay, GA
This is one driving day of about 78.2 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Ellijay, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on APD Highway for about 24.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.1 mi from Ellijay, GA
· 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.23 one way
$24.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$13.37
$26.74
premium
$4.70
$14.47
$28.95
diesel
$5.61
$17.27
$34.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.84
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 13, 2026
Origin
Ellijay, GA
Evening
in Ellijay on Friday
Local time
7:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atlanta, GA
Evening
in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
7:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:31PM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:57AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
53°F
Canton, GA
39 mi in
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
32 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 33m 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 Ellijay, GA to Atlanta, GA covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are APD Highway, Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 miles from Ellijay, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.23 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 78.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles (GA 2; GA 52 / River Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 46.3 miles (I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 77.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Ellijay, GA to Atlanta, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
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.
