The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Ellaville, GA covers 129.7 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 19, Fayetteville Street, Tara Boulevard for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 48.3 miles on US 19.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.28 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.8 miles from Sandy Springs, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 19
48.3 mi
1h
Fayetteville Street
20.1 mi
30m
Tara Boulevard
16.3 mi
24m
South Church Street
12.2 mi
14m
I 75
7.6 mi
9m
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
5.6 mi
7m
Downtown Connector
5 mi
6m
Zebulon Road
4.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 48.3 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Springs, GA and Ellaville, 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
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Glenridge Connector
0.3 mi·37 sec·Glenridge Connector
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward GA 400 SouthUse 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 straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
7.6 mi·9 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Exit 235Toward US 19, US 41, GA 3: Griffin, JonesboroUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on Tara Boulevard
16 mi·24 min·Tara Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 19; US 41; GA 3
12 mi·16 min·US 19; US 41; GA 3
Use the left lane.
14
Take the exit onto US 19; GA 3
369 ft·10 sec·US 19; GA 3
Toward Zebulon, Thomaston
15
Merge onto US 19; GA 3
4.6 mi·6 min·Zebulon Road
16
Continue on US 19; GA 3
20 mi·30 min·Fayetteville Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Merge onto US 19; GA 3
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Center Street
18
Continue on US 19; GA 3
12 mi·14 min·South Church Street
19
Continue on US 19; US 80; GA 3; GA 22
2.1 mi·2 min·US 19; US 80; GA 3; GA 22
20
Continue on US 19; GA 3
34 mi·41 min·US 19; GA 3
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn right onto North Broad Street
1.3 mi·2 min·North Broad Street
22
Turn right onto GA 26
87 ft·2 sec·West Oglethorpe Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Arrive at destination
GA 26
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Sandy Springs, GA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 29 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ellaville, 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 129.7 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Sandy Springs, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 19 for about 48.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 129.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward GA 400 South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward GA 400 South
5
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in|GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Merge onto GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
18.6 mi into trip|~27m 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
26.3 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward US 19, US 41, GA 3: Griffin, Jonesboro
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 235
Toward US 19, US 41, GA 3: Griffin, Jonesboro
6
129.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m in|GA 26 / West Oglethorpe Street
Turn right onto GA 26 / West Oglethorpe Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.28 one way
$40.56 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$22.18
$44.35
premium
$4.70
$24.00
$48.01
diesel
$5.61
$28.64
$57.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Avenue East Cobb - Tesla Supercharger
Marietta, GA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Jim Ellis Ford of Sandy Springs
Atlanta, GA
FORD_CHARGE
6 DCFC
FPC Trowbridge-Trowbridge Crossing (Sandy Springs, GA)
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
EV Truck/SUV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Sandy Springs, GA
Afternoon
in Sandy Springs on Saturday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Ellaville, GA
Afternoon
in Ellaville on Saturday
Local time
4:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°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
1 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
2h 57m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influenc...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 129.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Ellaville, GA covers 129.7 miles and takes about 2h 57m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 19 is the longest continuous segment at about 48.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 129.7 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sandy Springs, GA and Ellaville, GA, road signs point toward Jonesboro, Zebulon and Thomaston.
Jonesboro
26.3 mi in|~36m
Zebulon
54.8 mi in|~1h 18m|via US 19; GA 3
Thomaston
54.8 mi in|~1h 18m|via US 19; GA 3
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 129.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Ellaville, GA covers 129.7 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 19, Fayetteville Street, Tara Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.8 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 $20.28 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 129.7 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 2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (GA 400 / T Harvey Mathis Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.6 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Sandy Springs, GA and Ellaville, GA, road signs point toward Jonesboro, Zebulon and Thomaston.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
