Trip from Marietta, GA to Athens, GA

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

78.5 mi

126 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 34m ★

6 AM

1h 42m

8 AM

1h 57m

10 AM

1h 47m

12 PM

1h 46m

3 PM

1h 48m

5 PM

1h 56m

8 PM

1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Athens, GA

Efrem Efre

Trip Overview

Spanning 78.5 miles across the Southeast, this trip from Marietta to Athens is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 41 minutes. Because of the manageable distance and duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the round trip, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares like Interstate 85 and the Atlanta Bypass to move you between these two Georgia hubs. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of pace, this direct drive is efficient and requires no overnight stops.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.3 miles from Marietta, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 63% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate the Atlanta Bypass and the Perimeter before transitioning onto Interstate 85, followed by a significant 38.4-mile stretch along University Parkway. This is not a winding backroad journey, but rather a functional, high-traffic transit route that prioritizes speed over scenery. The transition from the dense highway network around the Perimeter to the more open flow of University Parkway defines the character of this drive. Be prepared for a consistent pace that changes little in intensity until you approach your destination.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

University Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 38.4 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,124 ft 665 ft

Total Climb

512 ft

Total Descent

882 ft

Highest Point

1,124 ft

Elevation Range

459 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 78.5 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 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

6.7 mi into trip | ~11m 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...

7.1 mi into trip | ~11m 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

20.1 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the exit toward I 85 North: Greenville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 33B Toward I 85 North: Greenville

21.1 mi into trip | ~29m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Roa...

76.2 mi into trip | ~1h 36m in

Take the exit toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson

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 14 Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson

Towns Along This Route

Between Marietta, GA and Athens, GA, road signs point toward Tampa, Greenville and Augusta.

Tampa

6.7 mi in | ~11m

Greenville

6.7 mi in | ~11m

Augusta

6.7 mi in | ~11m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
University Parkway	38.4 mi	47m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter	12.1 mi	14m
Interstate Highway 85	8.8 mi	9m
GA Inner Loop 10	3.7 mi	4m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway	3.2 mi	3m
Prince Avenue	1.8 mi	3m
Inner Loop 10	1.7 mi	1m
Roswell Street	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: University Parkway — 38.4 mi, about 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Marietta, GA and Athens, GA.

Start on West Park Square

117 ft · 11 sec · West Park Square

Continue on South Park Square

343 ft · 8 sec · South Park Square

Use the left lane.

Continue on Roswell Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · Roswell Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto US 41; GA 3

0.7 mi · 1 min · Cobb Parkway South

Use the straight lane.

Turn left onto GA 120

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Marietta Parkway

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 52 sec

Toward I 75 South: Atlanta Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 75

3.2 mi · 3 min · Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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.

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min

Toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 285

12 mi · 14 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 33B Toward I 85 North: Greenville Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

525 ft · 12 sec

Toward I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward I 85 North: Greenville

Merge onto I 85

0.7 mi · 47 sec · Northeast Expressway

Continue on I 85

8.8 mi · 9 min · Interstate Highway 85

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 37 sec

Exit 106 Toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens

Continue on GA 316

38 mi · 47 min · University Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

380 ft · 12 sec

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto Oconee Connector

0.6 mi · 1 min · Oconee Connector

Use the left lane.

Turn left

0.2 mi · 25 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto GA 10 Loop

1.3 mi · 1 min · Inner Loop 10

Continue on GA 10 Loop

3.7 mi · 4 min · GA Inner Loop 10

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on GA 10 Loop

0.4 mi · 25 sec · Inner Loop 10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Exit 14 Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 129

195 ft · 12 sec · US 129

Turn left onto GA 15 Alternate

1.8 mi · 3 min · Prince Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on West Dougherty Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · West Dougherty Street

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn left onto North Lumpkin Street

101 ft · 2 sec · North Lumpkin Street

Use the left lane.

Arrive at destination

North Lumpkin Street

Trip Plan

Given that this is a 1 hour and 41-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Because the route is short and direct, you do not need to worry about planning complex rest stops unless you prefer to break up the monotony of the highway. Keep an eye on traffic patterns when navigating the Atlanta Bypass, as congestion can fluctuate significantly throughout the day. Since the longest uninterrupted segment occurs on University Parkway, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Marietta to keep your $13 travel budget on track. Embracing the short duration of the trip allows you to spend more time at your destination rather than on the road.

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 39.3 miles from Marietta, GA, or about 50m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.4 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 78.5 miles or 1h 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 39.3 miles or 50m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, GA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Marietta, 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 Marietta, GA

This is one driving day of about 78.5 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Marietta, GA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on University Parkway for about 38.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.3 mi from Marietta, GA · 50m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cleveland, TN

39 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

Greenville, SC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 78.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cleveland, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.3 miles from Marietta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Athens, GA

The final approach into Athens, 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 Athens, GA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.56 one way

$25.13 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$13.69	$27.38
premium	$4.78	$14.77	$29.53
diesel	$5.64	$17.44	$34.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.6	$8.24	$3.77
Efficient EV	19.6	$6.87	$3.14
EV Truck/SUV	31.4	$10.99	$5.02

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Marietta, GA

Evening in Marietta on Sunday

Local time

8:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Athens, GA

Evening in Athens on Sunday

Local time

8:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

64°F

Cleveland, TN

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

26 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 41m 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 Marietta, GA to Athens, GA covers 78.5 miles and takes about 1h 41m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are University Parkway, Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, Interstate Highway 85. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39.3 miles from Marietta, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.56 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.

Between Marietta, GA and Athens, GA, road signs point toward Tampa, Greenville and Augusta.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 665 ft to 1,124 ft elevation with about 512 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Athens, GA to Marietta, GA

Plan the drive back the other way.

77.2 mi 1h 39m

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Trip from Marietta, GA to Athens, GA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Athens, GA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Marietta, GA

Athens, GA

Same local time

26 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 41m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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