Origin
Locust Grove, GA
Afternoon in Locust Grove on Friday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Locust Grove, GA to Smyrna, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
60 mi
97 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Locust Grove, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Locust Grove, GA to Smyrna, GA covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Highway, Highway 81 East, Highway 81 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.8 miles on Purple Heart Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.38 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 60 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Locust Grove, GA to Smyrna, GA covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 18.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.7 miles in near King Mill Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60 miles you will encounter 10 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 7.7 miles (King Mill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.6 miles (GA 81 / Highway 81 East): Navigation decision point; at 32.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
7.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
King Mill Road
Keep slight left at fork onto King Mill Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
8.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
GA 81 / Highway 81 East
Turn right onto GA 81 / Highway 81 East
Navigation decision point
7
32.8 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Augusta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
5
33.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
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 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Locust Grove, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
52 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| Highway 81 East | 9.7 mi | 13m |
| Highway 81 South | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| US 23 | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| King Mill Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Covington Bypass Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Greensboro Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 18.8 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Locust Grove, GA and Smyrna, GA.
1
Start on North Jackson Street
93 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Jackson Street
2
Turn right onto US 23; GA 42
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
US 23; GA 42
3
Turn straight
207 ft
·
7 sec
4
Turn straight onto King Mill Road
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
King Mill Road
5
Keep slight left at fork onto King Mill Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
King Mill Road
6
Turn slight left onto Old Jackson Road
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Old Jackson Road
7
Turn right onto GA 81
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Highway 81 East
8
Turn slight right onto GA 81
285 ft
·
9 sec
·
Keys Road
9
Turn slight right onto GA 81
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 81 East
10
Continue on GA 81
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway 81 South
11
Enter roundabout onto Highway 81 South
150 ft
·
5 sec
·
Highway 81 South
12
Continue on Highway 81 South
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 81 South
13
Continue on GA 81
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Broad Street
14
Turn right onto Covington Bypass Road
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Covington Bypass Road
15
Continue on GA 36
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on GA 142
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
John R. Williams Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto I 20
19 mi
·
20 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Monticello Highway
21
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
GA 83
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
23
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft
·
3 sec
·
Eatonton Road
24
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
South Main Street
25
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Greensboro Road
26
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft
·
2 sec
·
Buckhead Road
27
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30 mi from Locust Grove, GA · 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30 miles from Locust Grove, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Smyrna, GA
The final approach into Smyrna, 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
$9.38 one way
$18.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.26 | $20.52 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.10 | $22.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.25 | $26.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Smyrna, GA
Afternoon in Smyrna on Friday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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
1h 24m 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 Locust Grove, GA to Smyrna, GA covers 60 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Highway, Highway 81 East, Highway 81 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30 miles from Locust Grove, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.38 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 60 miles you will encounter 10 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 7.7 miles (King Mill Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 8.6 miles (GA 81 / Highway 81 East): Navigation decision point; at 32.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Locust Grove, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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