Origin
Sandy Springs, GA
Afternoon in Sandy Springs on Saturday
Local time
2:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sandy Springs, GA to Ellijay, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
72.1 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ellijay, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sandy Springs, GA to Ellijay, GA covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on APD Highway, Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.8 miles on APD Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| APD Highway | 24.8 mi | 30m |
| Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway | 24.2 mi | 25m |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 8.3 mi | 9m |
| A P D Highway | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 3.9 mi | 4m |
| River Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Roswell Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Hilderbrand Drive Northeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
APD Highway
— 24.8 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sandy Springs, GA and Ellijay, GA.
1
Start on Mount Vernon Highway
374 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mount Vernon Highway
2
Turn right onto Boylston Drive Northeast
506 ft
·
24 sec
·
Boylston Drive Northeast
3
Turn right onto Hilderbrand Drive Northeast
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Hilderbrand Drive Northeast
4
Turn left onto GA 9
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 285 West: Dorothy Felton Interchange
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 285
3.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 20
Toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 75
8.3 mi
·
9 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Exit 268
Toward I 575 North, GA 5 North: Canton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 575; GA 5
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
A P D Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on GA 5; GA 515
25 mi
·
30 min
·
APD Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Turn left onto US 76; GA 2
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
1st Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto GA 2; GA 52
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
River Street
16
Turn right onto North Church Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
North Church Street
17
Arrive at destination
North Church Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Sandy Springs, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 15.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Boylston Drive Northeast
Turn right onto Boylston Drive Northeast
Navigation decision point
8
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
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 20
Toward I 75: Atlanta, Marietta, Chattanooga
8
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
6.8 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
9
15.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 575; GA 5 / Phillip Landrum Memorial Highway toward I 575 North, GA 5 North: Canton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 268
Toward I 575 North, GA 5 North: Canton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.27 one way
$22.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.33 | $24.66 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.34 | $26.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.92 | $31.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Ellijay, GA
Afternoon in Ellijay on Saturday
Local time
2:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Canton, GA
36 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
72.1 mi in 1h 27m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.8 mi on APD Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Boylston Drive Northeast.
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 72.1 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (Boylston Drive Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Ellijay, GA, road signs point toward Marietta and Chattanooga.
Marietta
5.5 mi in
|
~8m
Chattanooga
5.5 mi in
|
~8m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.8 miles on APD Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Ellijay, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Boylston Drive Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ellijay, GA before heading back.
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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