Origin
Roswell, GA
Night in Roswell on Thursday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Roswell, GA to McDonough, GA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
51.7 mi
83 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 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Roswell, GA
Wikimedia Commons
McDonough, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 51.7-mile drive from Roswell, GA to McDonough, GA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on I-75, with portions of T Harvey Mathis Parkway and the Downtown Connector also part of the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this short excursion is around $8. This route stays within the Southeast region, so you won't encounter significant changes in scenery or climate. Its straightforward nature makes it a practical option for a quick transit between these two Georgia locations.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 51.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for this 51.7-mile journey, with 74% of the drive on major roadways like I-75. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.3 miles on I-75, offering a consistent pace. While primarily interstate, the inclusion of the Downtown Connector suggests you might encounter more varied traffic patterns as you approach busier areas. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 T Harvey Mathis Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near Northridge Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.4 miles (Northridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Northridge Road
Turn left onto Northridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
6
26 mi into trip
|
~36m 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
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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 Roswell, GA to McDonough, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Lovejoy along the way.
Lovejoy
47.3 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 21.3 mi | 25m |
| T Harvey Mathis Parkway | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Connector | 5 mi | 6m |
| Turner McDonald Parkway | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| Jonesboro Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| North Atlanta Street | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Northeast Expressway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| James Wendell George Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 21.3 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roswell, GA and McDonough, GA.
1
Start on GA 9; GA 120
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
North Atlanta Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn left onto Northridge Road
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Northridge Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right
156 ft
·
8 sec
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
5
Merge onto US 19; GA 400
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on GA 400
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 85
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Northeast Expressway
8
Continue on I 75; I 85
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
21 mi
·
25 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 221
Toward Jonesboro Road, Lovejoy
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto Jonesboro Road
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Jonesboro Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Jonesboro Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Jonesboro Road
14
Enter roundabout onto Jonesboro Road
159 ft
·
2 sec
·
Jonesboro Road
15
Continue on Jonesboro Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Jonesboro Road
16
Continue on GA 20; GA 81
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Keys Ferry Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto US 23; GA 42
250 ft
·
14 sec
·
Macon Street
18
Turn left onto GA 20; GA 81
266 ft
·
14 sec
·
John Frank Ward Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto US 23; GA 20; GA 42; GA 81
137 ft
·
3 sec
·
Atlanta Street
20
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 25.9 mi from Roswell, GA · 36m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 25.9 miles from Roswell, 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
$8.08 one way
$16.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $8.84 | $17.68 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.57 | $19.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
McDonough, GA
Night in McDonough on Thursday
Local time
9:29 PM
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 10m 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 Roswell, GA to McDonough, GA covers 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 75, T Harvey Mathis Parkway, Downtown Connector. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 miles from Roswell, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.08 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 51.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 3.4 miles (Northridge Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Roswell, 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.
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