Origin
Norcross, GA
Afternoon in Norcross on Friday
Local time
2:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norcross, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
27m
Distance
20.4 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 32m
10 AM
0h 29m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norcross, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 20.4-mile drive from Norcross, GA to Atlanta, GA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 27 minutes to complete. Your journey will primarily utilize major highways like the Northeast Expressway and the Downtown Connector, with a significant 69% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $3, making it an economical option. Given the short distance and duration, you won't need an overnight stop, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. This drive stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points within Georgia.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 27m. Total distance: 20.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 69% of the route on major roadways. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 12.6 miles on the Northeast Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The main roads you'll navigate include the Northeast Expressway, Downtown Connector, and Jimmy Carter Boulevard, indicating a blend of high-speed travel and some local artery transitions as you approach your destination. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than scenic detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 12.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Northeast Expressway and Downtown Connector. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near GA 140 / Jimmy Carter Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 20.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.9 miles (GA 140 / Jimmy Carter Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
GA 140 / Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Turn left onto GA 140 / Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 85 South
8
19.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
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 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
6
20.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
20.3 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Expressway | 12.6 mi | 15m |
| Downtown Connector | 3 mi | 4m |
| Jimmy Carter Boulevard | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Buford Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Peachtree Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Norcross Tucker Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Expressway
— 12.6 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norcross, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on South Peachtree Street
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Peachtree Street
2
Continue on North Norcross Tucker Road
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
North Norcross Tucker Road
3
Turn right onto US 23; GA 13
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Buford Highway
4
Turn left onto GA 140
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 85 South
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 85
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Interstate Highway 85
7
Continue on I 85
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 75; I 85
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.19 one way
$6.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.49 | $6.98 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.78 | $7.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.50 | $9.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.14 | $0.98 |
| Efficient EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Atlanta, GA
Afternoon in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
2:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 10 mph
1% chance
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
12 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
27m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Norcross, GA to Atlanta, GA covers 20.4 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Expressway, Downtown Connector, Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.2 miles from Norcross, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.19 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 20.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.9 miles (GA 140 / Jimmy Carter Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 19.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Norcross, GA to Atlanta, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
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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