Origin
Oxford, GA
Night in Oxford on Friday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oxford, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
35.1 mi
56 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oxford, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stretching just 35.1 miles, the journey from Oxford to Atlanta is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 36 minutes. Because of the short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly commute within the Southeast region. You will primarily navigate via West Street Northwest, Highway 278, and I-20 West to reach your destination. This drive is practical for travelers looking for an efficient connection between these two Georgia locations without the need for complex planning.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive as you transition from Oxford toward the metropolitan area. While the route incorporates I-20 West, the highway share is technically 0%, meaning your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating local roads rather than high-speed interstate stretches. The personality of this drive is functional and direct, requiring your full attention as you navigate various turns along Highway 278. Because this is a relatively short transit, you will not encounter long, monotonous highway segments. Instead, the experience is defined by the constant movement of local traffic as you make your way into the heart of Atlanta.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 9 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 22.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near West Street Northwest.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 42m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (West Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 278; GA 12 / Highway 278 Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
West Street Northwest
Turn right onto West Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 278; GA 12 / Highway 278 Northwest
Turn right onto US 278; GA 12 / Highway 278 Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
34.2 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
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 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
5
34.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 22.8 mi | 24m |
| Ralph David Abernathy Freeway | 9.3 mi | 11m |
| US 278 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Emory Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Street Northwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Highway 278 Northwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 22.8 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oxford, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on GA 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Emory Street
2
Turn right onto West Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Street Northwest
3
Turn right onto US 278; GA 12
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Highway 278 Northwest
4
Take the ramp onto US 278; GA 12
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 278; GA 12
Toward I 20 West: Atlanta
5
Merge onto I 20; US 278; GA 12
23 mi
·
24 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 20
9.3 mi
·
11 min
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 58A
Toward Capital Avenue, Downtown
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
9
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.49 one way
$10.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.00 | $12.00 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.50 | $12.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.75 | $15.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Atlanta, GA
Night in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
9:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
3 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
42m 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 Oxford, GA to Atlanta, GA covers 35.1 miles and takes about 42m 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, US 278. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.5 miles from Oxford, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.49 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 is a straightforward 42m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (West Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (US 278; GA 12 / Highway 278 Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 20; US 278; GA 12 / Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Oxford, 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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