Origin
Sandy Springs, GA
Night in Sandy Springs on Sunday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandy Springs, GA to College Park, GA
Drive Time
34m
Distance
23.5 mi
38 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
College Park, GA
DΛVΞ GΛRCIΛ
Trip Overview
Spanning 23.5 miles through the heart of Georgia, this straightforward trip from Sandy Springs to College Park typically takes about 34 minutes behind the wheel. Because of the quick duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via T Harvey Mathis Parkway, the Downtown Connector, and I-85. With an estimated fuel cost of only $4, it is a very budget-friendly transit across the Southeast. Whether you are commuting or heading to the airport area, this route offers a practical, no-fuss connection between these two locations.
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
11.7 miles from Sandy Springs, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip features a mixed drive profile, blending local arterial roads with major interstate travel. Approximately 59% of your journey will be spent on highways, meaning you should prepare for typical metropolitan traffic patterns. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 5.6 miles while navigating T Harvey Mathis Parkway before transitioning onto the faster, multi-lane Downtown Connector and I-85. Expect the road's personality to shift from suburban surface streets to the higher-speed, high-density environment of the interstate system as you head south.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
T Harvey Mathis Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 5.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Glenridge Drive Northeast.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 23.5 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 0.7 miles (Glenridge Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Glenridge Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Glenridge Drive Northeast
Turn right onto Glenridge Drive Northeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Glenridge Connector
Keep slight left at fork onto Glenridge Connector
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
9
18.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 South: Airport Domestic, Montgomery
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 242
Toward I 85 South: Airport Domestic, Montgomery
8
21.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Virginia Avenue, College Park
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 73
Toward Virginia Avenue, College Park
6
23.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
Harvard Avenue
Turn left onto Harvard Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Sandy Springs, GA to College Park, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
Montgomery
18.6 mi in
|
~27m
|
via I 85
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| T Harvey Mathis Parkway | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Downtown Connector | 5 mi | 6m |
| I 85 | 3 mi | 4m |
| Northeast Expressway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| James Wendell George Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Glenridge Drive Northeast | 1 mi | 2m |
| Virginia Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Johnson Ferry Road Northeast | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
— 5.6 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Springs, GA and College Park, GA.
1
Start on Mount Vernon Highway
0.1 mi
·
19 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
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Glenridge Drive Northeast
Use the none lane.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Glenridge Connector
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Glenridge Connector
Use the none lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward GA 400 South
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto GA 400
5.6 mi
·
7 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 85
Exit 242
Toward I 85 South: Airport Domestic, Montgomery
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 73
Toward Virginia Avenue, College Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn slight right onto Virginia Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Virginia Avenue
Use the none lane.
13
Turn slight right
450 ft
·
16 sec
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
184 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn slight right onto US 29; GA 14; GA 139
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
Use the none lane.
16
Turn left onto Harvard Avenue
44 ft
·
1 sec
·
Harvard Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Harvard Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 34-minute excursion, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should keep an eye on local traffic reports for the Downtown Connector. You will not need to plan for any formal stops along the way given the 23.5-mile distance. To keep your transit smooth, ensure your tank is topped off, as the $4 fuel estimate is based on direct travel without idling in heavy congestion. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by choosing a departure window that avoids peak rush hour, as this will significantly improve your overall experience on the interstate portions of the drive.
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 11.7 miles from Sandy Springs, GA, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.6 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 23.5 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 11.7 miles or 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near College Park, 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 23.5 miles and 34m.
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.
The longest stretch is on T Harvey Mathis Parkway for about 5.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 11.7 mi from Sandy Springs, GA · 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
12 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 23.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 11.7 miles from Sandy Springs, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in College Park, GA
The final approach into College Park, 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 College Park, 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
$3.76 one way
$7.52 round trip
$4.07/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $4.10 | $8.20 |
| premium | $4.78 | $4.42 | $8.84 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $5.22 | $10.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.47 | $1.13 |
| Efficient EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
College Park, GA
Night in College Park on Sunday
Local time
9:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°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
23 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
34m 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 College Park, GA covers 23.5 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are T Harvey Mathis Parkway, Downtown Connector, I 85. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.7 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 $3.76 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 demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 23.5 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Glenridge Drive Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Glenridge Connector): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Sandy Springs, GA to College Park, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Montgomery along the way.
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