Origin
Marietta, GA
Late night in Marietta on Friday
Local time
3:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marietta, GA to McDonough, GA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McDonough, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Marietta, GA to McDonough, GA covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 75, Horace E Tate Freeway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 21.3 miles on I 75. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.68 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 5m highway drive covering 49.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 75 and Horace E Tate Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 21.3 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 21 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 21.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Horace E Tate Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Park Square.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (South Park Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Park Square
Continue onto South Park Square
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
44.7 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Jonesboro Road, Lovejoy
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 221
Toward Jonesboro Road, Lovejoy
7
49.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
GA 20; GA 81 / John Frank Ward Boulevard
Turn left onto GA 20; GA 81 / John Frank Ward Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
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 Marietta, GA to McDonough, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Lovejoy along the way.
Lovejoy
44.7 mi in
|
~57m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 21.3 mi | 25m |
| Horace E Tate Freeway | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 5.2 mi | 5m |
| Downtown Connector | 5 mi | 6m |
| Jonesboro Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| James Wendell George Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Roswell Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Cobb Parkway South | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 21.3 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marietta, GA and McDonough, GA.
1
Start on West Park Square
117 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Park Square
2
Continue on South Park Square
343 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Park Square
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Roswell Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Roswell Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto US 41; GA 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cobb Parkway South
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto GA 120
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Marietta Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 75
5.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 75
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Horace E Tate Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 75; I 85
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 221
Toward Jonesboro Road, Lovejoy
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto Jonesboro Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Jonesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto Jonesboro Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonesboro Road
15
Enter roundabout onto Jonesboro Road
159 ft
·
2 sec
·
Jonesboro Road
16
Continue on Jonesboro Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Jonesboro Road
17
Continue on GA 20; GA 81
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Keys Ferry Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn left onto US 23; GA 42
250 ft
·
14 sec
·
Macon Street
19
Turn left onto GA 20; GA 81
266 ft
·
14 sec
·
John Frank Ward Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto US 23; GA 20; GA 42; GA 81
137 ft
·
3 sec
·
Atlanta Street
21
Arrive at destination
US 23; GA 20; GA 42; GA 81
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.6 mi from Marietta, GA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.6 miles from Marietta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in McDonough, GA
The final approach into McDonough, 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
$7.68 one way
$15.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.40 | $16.79 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.09 | $18.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
McDonough, GA
Late night in McDonough on Friday
Local time
3:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 5m 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 McDonough, GA covers 49.1 miles and takes about 1h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, Horace E Tate Freeway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.6 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 $7.68 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 49.1 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (South Park Square): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.4 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Marietta, GA to McDonough, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Lovejoy along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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