Origin
Sandy Springs, GA
Late night in Sandy Springs on Wednesday
Local time
2:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
66 mi
106 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA covers 66 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Johnson Ferry Road Northeast, Glenridge Drive Northeast, Hammond Drive Northeast for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.32 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
33 miles from Sandy Springs, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 26m drive with frequent turns across 66 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Johnson Ferry Road Northeast is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA is easy. At 1h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson Ferry Road Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Glenridge Drive Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hammond Drive Northeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Peachtree Dunwoody Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 85 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 85 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Johnson Ferry Road Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Springs, GA and Athens, GA.
1
Start on Mount Vernon Highway
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Mount Vernon Highway
2
Continue on Johnson Ferry Road Northeast
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Ferry Road Northeast
3
Turn right onto Glenridge Drive Northeast
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Glenridge Drive Northeast
4
Turn slight left onto Hammond Drive Northeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hammond Drive Northeast
5
Turn right onto Peachtree Dunwoody Road
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Peachtree Dunwoody Road
6
Keep slight left to continue on Peachtree Dunwoody Road
390 ft
·
17 sec
·
Peachtree Dunwoody Road
7
Take the ramp sharp left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 85 North: Greenville
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 85 North: Greenville
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Road
525 ft
·
13 sec
·
I 85 North: Greenville, Pleasantdale Road
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 85 North: Greenville
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 85 North: Greenville
12
Merge slight left onto Northeast Expressway
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Northeast Expressway
13
Continue on Interstate Highway 85
8.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Interstate Highway 85
14
Take the exit slight right toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
·
GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens
15
Continue on University Parkway
38 mi
·
47 min
·
University Parkway
16
Take the exit slight left
381 ft
·
12 sec
17
Turn left onto Oconee Connector
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Oconee Connector
18
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
19
Merge slight left onto Inner Loop 10
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Inner Loop 10
20
Continue on GA Inner Loop 10
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
GA Inner Loop 10
21
Continue on Inner Loop 10
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
Inner Loop 10
22
Take the exit slight right toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
23
Keep slight left
194 ft
·
12 sec
24
Turn left onto Prince Avenue
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Prince Avenue
25
Continue on West Dougherty Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
West Dougherty Street
26
Turn left onto North Lumpkin Street
102 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Lumpkin Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 33 miles from Sandy Springs, GA, or about 43m into the drive.
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 66 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33 miles or 43m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sandy Springs, 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 Sandy Springs, GA
This is one driving day of about 66 miles and 1h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sandy Springs, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33 mi from Sandy Springs, GA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 66 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33 miles from Sandy Springs, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Athens, GA
The final approach into Athens, 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 Athens, 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
$10.32 one way
$20.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.28 | $22.57 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.22 | $24.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.57 | $29.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.93 | $3.17 |
| Efficient EV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.4 | 0 | $9.24 | $4.22 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Athens, GA
Late night in Athens on Wednesday
Local time
2:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
77°F
Cleveland, TN
33 mi in
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
25 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 26m 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 Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA covers 66 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Johnson Ferry Road Northeast, Glenridge Drive Northeast, Hammond Drive Northeast. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33 miles from Sandy Springs, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.32 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.
The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA is easy. At 1h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sandy Springs, GA to Athens, GA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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