The drive from Smyrna, GA to Acworth, GA covers 97.4 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Purple Heart Highway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, Ralph David Abernathy Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.9 miles on Purple Heart Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.23 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.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Smyrna, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 97.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 97.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Purple Heart Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 46.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 64.3 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 97.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.3 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.1 miles (I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
64.3 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Hill Street, Turner Field
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 58B
Toward Hill Street, Turner Field
8
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway 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
8
86.1 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
8
94.7 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Take the exit toward GA 92: Acworth, Woodstock
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 277
Toward GA 92: Acworth, Woodstock
8
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward GA 92 South: Acworth, CCT Park&Ride Lot
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward GA 92 South: Acworth, CCT Park&Ride Lot
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smyrna, GA and Acworth, GA, road signs point toward Turner Field, Chattanooga and Kennesaw.
Turner Field
64.3 mi in|~1h 13m
Chattanooga
68.3 mi in|~1h 20m|via I 75
Kennesaw
86.1 mi in|~1h 41m|via I 75
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
19.2 mi
22m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
9.1 mi
10m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
8m
Madison Bypass
4.2 mi
6m
Downtown Connector
3.1 mi
4m
Greensboro Road
3 mi
4m
Cowan Road
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 46.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, GA and Acworth, GA.
1
Start on Buckhead Road
103 ft·6 sec·Buckhead Road
2
Turn left onto US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi·4 min·Greensboro Road
3
Turn left onto US 129 Bypass; US 441 Bypass; GA 24 Bypass
4.2 mi·6 min·Madison Bypass
4
Continue on US 129; US 441; GA 24
0.6 mi·1 min·Eatonton Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·25 sec
Toward I 20 West: Atlanta
6
Continue on I 20
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 20
9.1 mi·10 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 58BToward Hill Street, Turner FieldUse the slight right lane.
9
At end of road, turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
0.2 mi·41 sec·Hill Street Southeast
10
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.3 mi·29 sec·Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
12
Merge onto I 75; I 85
3.1 mi·4 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 75
11 mi·12 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
8.6 mi·9 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 277Toward GA 92: Acworth, WoodstockUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
104 ft·4 sec
Toward GA 92 South: Acworth, CCT Park&Ride LotUse the left lane.
18
Turn left onto GA 92
0.3 mi·39 sec·Cherokee Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on Cowan Road
1.3 mi·2 min·Cowan Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
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 48.7 miles from Smyrna, GA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.9 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 55m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Acworth, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smyrna, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Smyrna, GA
This is one driving day of about 97.4 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Smyrna, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Highway for about 46.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.7 mi from Smyrna, GA
· 55m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.23 one way
$30.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.65
$33.31
premium
$4.70
$18.03
$36.05
diesel
$5.61
$21.50
$43.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.2
0
$10.23
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.52
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.64
$6.23
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Smyrna, GA
Morning
in Smyrna on Friday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Acworth, GA
Morning
in Acworth on Friday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Decatur, GA
49 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
7 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 56m 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 Smyrna, GA to Acworth, GA covers 97.4 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Highway, Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, Ralph David Abernathy Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.7 miles from Smyrna, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.23 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 97.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.3 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 86.1 miles (I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Smyrna, GA and Acworth, GA, road signs point toward Turner Field, Chattanooga and Kennesaw.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
