The drive from Ellijay, GA to Minnesota, GA covers 269.6 miles and takes about 5h 16m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Fall Line Freeway, GA 33 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.8 miles on I 75.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
134.8 miles from Ellijay, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 269.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 16m highway drive covering 269.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Fall Line Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.8 miles on I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 75 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Fall Line Freeway. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 269.6 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 0.2 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 82.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 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.
6
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
146.9 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|I 475 / Larry Justice Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 South: Valdosta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177
Toward I 475 South: Valdosta
8
219.9 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, Albany
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 99
Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, A...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ellijay, GA and Minnesota, GA, road signs point toward Albany and Tifton.
Albany
219.9 mi in|~4h 8m
Tifton
221.6 mi in|~4h 10m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
64.8 mi
1h 11m
Fall Line Freeway
56.9 mi
1h
GA 33
27.8 mi
38m
APD Highway
24.8 mi
30m
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
21.1 mi
22m
Larry Justice Highway
16.1 mi
17m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
10.3 mi
11m
A P D Highway
10.1 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellijay, GA and Minnesota, 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
5.0 mi·6 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi·3 min·James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
16 mi·17 min·Larry Justice Highway
Exit 177Toward I 475 South: ValdostaUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
57 mi·1 hr·Fall Line Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 99Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto GA 300
1.3 mi·1 min·Georgia-Florida Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward US 41: Cordele, Tifton
21
Keep slight left at fork
73 ft·2 sec
Toward US 41 South: Tifton
22
Turn left onto US 41; GA 7
1.0 mi·1 min·US 41; GA 7
23
Turn straight onto GA 33
26 mi·36 min·GA 33
24
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 33
1.4 mi·2 min·GA 33
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn right onto East Pine Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·East Pine Street
26
Turn left onto GA 112
9.8 mi·13 min·South Isabella Street
27
Turn slight left
129 ft·4 sec
28
Turn left
118 ft·3 sec
29
Keep slight right at fork onto GA 133
8.4 mi·9 min·GA 133
30
Continue on GA 133
0.5 mi·32 sec·GA 133
31
Turn right onto CR 494
0.2 mi·29 sec·Funston Doerun Road
32
Turn sharp right onto South Fain Street
26 ft·1 sec·South Fain Street
33
Arrive at destination
South Fain Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 134.8 miles from Ellijay, GA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 59 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Minnesota, 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.
+
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 Ellijay, GA
This is one driving day of about 269.6 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Ellijay, 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 I 75 for about 64.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 134.8 mi from Ellijay, GA
· 2h 36m 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...
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 158.1
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
$42.16 one way
$84.32 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$46.10
$92.19
premium
$4.70
$49.90
$99.79
diesel
$5.61
$59.52
$119.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.31
$12.94
Efficient EV
67.4
0
$23.59
$10.78
EV Truck/SUV
107.8
1
$37.74
$17.25
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Ellijay, GA
Late night
in Ellijay on Saturday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Minnesota, GA
Late night
in Minnesota on Saturday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
4 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
5h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Minnesota, GA covers 269.6 miles and takes about 5h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Fall Line Freeway, GA 33. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 134.8 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 $42.16 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 269.6 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 0.2 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 82.1 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Ellijay, GA and Minnesota, GA, road signs point toward Albany and Tifton.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Ocmulgee Mounds 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.
