Origin
Smyrna, GA
Morning in Smyrna on Friday
Local time
11:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smyrna, GA to Forest Park, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
67.1 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Forest Park, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 67.1-mile drive from Smyrna, GA to Forest Park, GA is a straightforward, turn-heavy local journey estimated to take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Given its relatively short duration and an estimated fuel cost of just $10, it's perfectly suited as a single-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Purple Heart Highway and the Atlanta Bypass/The Perimeter, with some time on the Madison Bypass. This route stays within Georgia, so you won't be crossing regional lines. Expect a day trip that requires your attention due to frequent turns.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This is a "turn-heavy local drive" with no highway segments, meaning you'll be navigating surface streets and local roads for the entire 67.1 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 46.9 miles on the Purple Heart Highway, offering a sustained period of driving before you need to make further turns. The road character will likely involve a mix of urban and suburban environments, requiring constant awareness of traffic signals and intersections throughout the 1 hour and 20 minute duration.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
990 ft
589 ft
Total Climb
631 ft
Total Descent
258 ft
Highest Point
990 ft
~67.1 mi in
Elevation Range
401 ft
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 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 55.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.2 miles (I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
7.8 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 20 West: Atlanta
8
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward I 285 South Bypass: Atlanta Airport, Macon
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 67A
Toward I 285 South Bypass: Atlanta Airport, Mac...
5
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Merge onto I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
64.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward GA 54: Jonesboro Road, Forest 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 55
Toward GA 54: Jonesboro Road, Forest Park
7
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Smyrna, GA to Forest Park, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Macon along the way.
Macon
55.3 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 46.9 mi | 50m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| Madison Bypass | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Greensboro Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Jonesboro Road Southeast | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| College Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Eatonton Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 46.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, GA and Forest Park, 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
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Exit 67A
Toward I 285 South Bypass: Atlanta Airport, Macon
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 285
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Exit 55
Toward GA 54: Jonesboro Road, Forest Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
125 ft
·
5 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
12
Turn left onto GA 54
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Jonesboro Road Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn slight right onto College Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
College Street
14
Turn right onto North Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
15
Turn left onto West Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
West Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.5 mi from Smyrna, GA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Smyrna, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest Park, GA
The final approach into Forest Park, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.47 | $22.95 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.42 | $24.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.81 | $29.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 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 | 20.1 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.39 | $4.29 |
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
Forest Park, GA
Morning in Forest Park on Friday
Local time
11:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Oxford, GA
34 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
9 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 20m 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 Forest Park, GA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Highway, Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, Madison Bypass. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.5 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 $10.49 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 67.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 55.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.2 miles (I 285 / Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Smyrna, GA to Forest Park, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Macon along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 589 ft to 990 ft elevation with about 631 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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