Origin
Ellijay, GA
Night in Ellijay on Friday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ellijay, GA to Sandy Springs, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
72.2 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellijay, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ellijay, GA to Sandy Springs, GA covers 72.2 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on APD Highway, Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway, A P D Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.8 miles on APD Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 72.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 27m drive with frequent turns across 72.2 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.
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 Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 65.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese 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
65.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Birmingham, Tampa, Greenville, Augusta
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 259
Toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Bi...
8
65.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta
7
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward Riverside Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
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 Sandy Springs, GA, road signs point toward Tampa, Greenville and Augusta.
Tampa
65.5 mi in
|
~1h 17m
Greenville
65.5 mi in
|
~1h 17m
Augusta
65.5 mi in
|
~1h 17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| APD Highway | 24.8 mi | 30m |
| Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway | 21.1 mi | 22m |
| A P D Highway | 10.1 mi | 10m |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Mount Vernon Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Heards Ferry Road Northwest | 0.6 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 Sandy Springs, 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
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 259
Toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Birmingham, Tampa, Greenville, Augusta
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 285
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
134 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Riverside Drive
17
Turn slight right
214 ft
·
6 sec
18
Turn right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
478 ft
·
14 sec
·
Riverside Drive Northwest
19
Turn slight right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Riverside Drive Northwest
20
Turn right onto Heards Ferry Road Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Heards Ferry Road Northwest
21
Turn left onto Mount Vernon Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Vernon Highway
22
Arrive at destination
Mount Vernon Highway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.1 mi from Ellijay, GA · 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Ellijay, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sandy Springs, GA
The final approach into Sandy Springs, 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
$11.29 one way
$22.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.35 | $24.69 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.36 | $26.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.94 | $31.88 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.58 | $3.47 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.32 | $2.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.11 | $4.62 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Sandy Springs, GA
Night in Sandy Springs on Friday
Local time
9:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Canton, GA
36 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
1 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 27m 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 Ellijay, GA to Sandy Springs, GA covers 72.2 miles and takes about 1h 27m 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, A P D Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.1 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 $11.29 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 72.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 65.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ellijay, GA and Sandy Springs, GA, road signs point toward Tampa, Greenville and Augusta.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park.
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.
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