Origin
Smyrna, GA
Afternoon in Smyrna on Friday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smyrna, GA to Locust Grove, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
61.8 mi
99 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smyrna, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Locust Grove, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Smyrna, GA to Locust Grove, GA covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m 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, GA 36, State Route 36 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 20.3 miles on Purple Heart Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.66 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Smyrna, GA to Locust Grove, GA covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m, 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 20 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 20.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 24m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.4 miles (GA 36): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
6
28.5 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward GA 142: Covington, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 93
Toward GA 142: Covington, Oxford
5
42.4 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
GA 36
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
47.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
GA 36
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
61.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
North Jackson Street
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
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 Locust Grove, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
Oxford
28.5 mi in
|
~33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Heart Highway | 20.3 mi | 21m |
| GA 36 | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| State Route 36 | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| US 23 | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| Madison Bypass | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Greensboro Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Old Bethel Road | 2.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 20.3 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smyrna, GA and Locust Grove, 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
20 mi
·
21 min
·
Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Exit 93
Toward GA 142: Covington, Oxford
8
Turn left onto GA 142
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
John R. Williams Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on GA 36
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
10
Turn left onto GA 36
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Highway 36
11
Continue on GA 36
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Route 36
12
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
106 ft
·
2 sec
·
GA 36
13
Continue on GA 36
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
GA 36
14
Enter roundabout onto GA 36
76 ft
·
1 sec
·
GA 36
15
Continue on GA 36
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
GA 36
16
Turn right onto Old Bethel Road
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Bethel Road
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 23; GA 42
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
US 23; GA 42
18
Continue on US 23; GA 42
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 23; GA 42
19
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
93 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Jackson Street
20
Arrive at destination
North Jackson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 30.9 mi from Smyrna, GA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Smyrna, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Locust Grove, GA
The final approach into Locust Grove, 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
$9.66 one way
$19.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.57 | $21.13 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.64 | $27.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Locust Grove, GA
Afternoon in Locust Grove on Friday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Covington, GA
31 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
2 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 24m 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 Locust Grove, GA covers 61.8 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Purple Heart Highway, GA 36, State Route 36. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 30.9 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 $9.66 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 straightforward 1h 24m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.4 miles (GA 36): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Smyrna, GA to Locust Grove, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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