Trip from Marietta, GA to Smyrna, GA

Drive Time

1h 43m

Distance

83.2 mi

134 km

Drive Score

8/10

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 35m ★

6 AM

1h 43m

8 AM

1h 58m

10 AM

1h 48m

12 PM

1h 47m

3 PM

1h 49m

5 PM

1h 58m

8 PM

1h 38m

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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Smyrna, GA

Jan van der Wolf

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Marietta to Smyrna, you are looking at a 83.2-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. You will navigate through the Southeast region using the Purple Heart Highway, the Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, and the Horace E Tate Freeway. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should cover your travel costs for this distance. Since this is a straightforward, short-haul trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your own schedule.

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

41.6 miles from Marietta, GA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The route is composed of only 23% highway driving, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads rather than cruising on open interstates. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 45.3 miles you will spend on the Purple Heart Highway. While the transition between the various freeways keeps the trip moving, the overall personality of this drive is dictated by its technical nature rather than a monotonous interstate grind.

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.

Purple Heart Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 45.3 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 3.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 83.2 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 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

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

19.2 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward I 20: Augusta, Birmingham

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 247 Toward I 20: Augusta, Birmingham

19.4 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 East: Augusta

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 20 East: Augusta

75.1 mi into trip | ~1h 28m 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

75.5 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in | GA 83 / Monticello Highway

Turn left onto GA 83 / Monticello Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Marietta, GA and Smyrna, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Monticello.

Birmingham

19.2 mi in | ~26m

Monticello

75.1 mi in | ~1h 28m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Purple Heart Highway	45.3 mi	48m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway	9.7 mi	11m
Horace E Tate Freeway	7.3 mi	8m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway	5.2 mi	5m
Downtown Connector	3.2 mi	4m
Greensboro Road	3 mi	4m
South Main Street	2.7 mi	5m
Roswell Street	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Purple Heart Highway — 45.3 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Marietta, GA and Smyrna, 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 / none lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 52 sec

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

Merge onto I 75

5.2 mi · 5 min · Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 75

7.3 mi · 8 min · Horace E Tate Freeway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 75; I 85

3.2 mi · 4 min · Downtown Connector

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 247 Toward I 20: Augusta, Birmingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 20 East: Augusta Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 20

9.7 mi · 11 min · Ralph David Abernathy Freeway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 20

45 mi · 48 min · Purple Heart Highway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec

Exit 113 Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto GA 83

1.5 mi · 2 min · Monticello Highway

Use the none lane.

Turn slight right onto GA 83

0.4 mi · 37 sec · GA 83

Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83

157 ft · 3 sec · Eatonton Road

Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83

2.2 mi · 4 min · South Main Street

Continue on US 278; GA 12

3.0 mi · 4 min · Greensboro Road

Turn right onto Buckhead Road

103 ft · 2 sec · Buckhead Road

Arrive at destination

Buckhead Road

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short trip with zero scheduled stops, your primary focus should be on timing your departure to avoid local traffic congestion. You can easily complete the entire 83.2 miles in one go, so take advantage of the lack of mandatory pauses to keep your pace steady. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $13 estimate is based on standard consumption for this specific route. Since the drive is quite technical with many turns, ensure your GPS is mounted and ready to go before you pull out of Marietta to avoid missing any transitions between the freeway segments.

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 41.6 miles from Marietta, GA, or about 52m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 41.6 miles or 52m 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 Smyrna, 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 83.2 miles and 1h 43m.

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 Purple Heart Highway for about 45.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 41.6 mi from Marietta, GA · 52m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Centre, AL

42 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

Warner Robins, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cleveland, TN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.6 miles from Marietta, 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.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Smyrna, 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

$13.32 one way

$26.63 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.43	$14.51	$29.02
premium	$4.78	$15.65	$31.30
diesel	$5.64	$18.48	$36.97

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: 29.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	25	$8.74	$3.99
Efficient EV	20.8	$7.28	$3.33
EV Truck/SUV	33.3	$11.65	$5.32

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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

Smyrna, GA

Evening in Smyrna on Sunday

Local time

8:10 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°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

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 43m 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 Smyrna, GA covers 83.2 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Purple Heart Highway, Ralph David Abernathy Freeway, Horace E Tate Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 41.6 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 $13.32 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 Smyrna, GA, road signs point toward Birmingham and Monticello.

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Trip from Marietta, GA to Smyrna, GA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

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 Smyrna, GA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Marietta, GA

Smyrna, GA

Same local time

26 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 43m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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