Origin
Swansea, IL
Evening in Swansea on Friday
Local time
7:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Swansea, IL to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
9h 59m
Distance
540.7 mi
870 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$85
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 51m
★
6 AM
10h 0m
8 AM
10h 18m
10 AM
10h 6m
12 PM
10h 4m
3 PM
10h 7m
5 PM
10h 17m
8 PM
9h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Swansea, IL
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Swansea, IL to Atlanta, GA covers 540.7 miles and takes about 9h 59m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 24, I 75, I 64 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 316 miles on I 24. At current regular gas prices, budget about $84.53 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
270.3 miles from Swansea, IL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 540.7 miles and 9h 59m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 24 and I 75.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 24 is the longest continuous segment at about 316 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 24 and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 290.1 miles in near I 24.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 540.7 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 290.1 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 295.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 297.3 miles (I 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
290.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
|
I 24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24 toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 44A
Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
9
295.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 24m in
|
I 24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24 toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattan...
7
297.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 26m in
|
I 24
Take the exit onto I 24 toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 213A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
8
431 mi into trip
|
~7h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 185 A
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
8
540.2 mi into trip
|
~9h 58m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, 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 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Swansea, IL and Atlanta, GA, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.
Knoxville
292.4 mi in
|
~5h 20m
|
via I 24
Chattanooga
295.2 mi in
|
~5h 24m
|
via I 24
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 24 | 316 mi | 5h 48m |
| I 75 | 108.6 mi | 2h |
| I 64 | 58.7 mi | 1h 3m |
| Ken Gray Expressway | 47.2 mi | 50m |
| Lebanon Avenue | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| North Belt West | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Maple Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 24
— 316 mi, about 5h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Swansea, IL and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on IL 161
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Belt West
2
Turn left onto Lebanon Avenue
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Lebanon Avenue
3
Continue on South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Main Street
4
Turn right onto Maple Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Street
5
Turn left onto IL 158
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
Air Mobility Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 64 East: Mount Vernon
7
Merge onto I 64
59 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 64
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 57
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Ken Gray Expressway
9
Take the exit
1.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 24 East: Nashville
10
Continue on I 24
175 mi
·
3 hr 8 min
·
I 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 24
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Exit 44A
Toward I 24 East, I 65 South: Nashville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Continue on I 24
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
I 24
Exit 86
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga, Knoxville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 24
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
I 24
Exit 50A
Toward I 40 East, I 24 East: Knoxville, Chattanooga
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit onto I 24
134 mi
·
2 hr 30 min
·
I 24
Exit 213A
Toward I 24 East: Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 185 A
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 75
109 mi
·
2 hr
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
21
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 270.3 miles from Swansea, IL, or about 4h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 316 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 119 miles or 2h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 270.3 miles or 4h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 270.3 miles or 4h 55m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 8h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Swansea, IL 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Swansea, IL
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Atlanta, GA
Aim for roughly 270 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 119 miles from Swansea, IL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 24 for about 316 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 270.3 mi from Swansea, IL · 4h 55m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
178 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
357 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Chattanooga, TNOvernight Options
Night 1
270 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Clarksville, TN after about 270 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 119 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 270.3 miles from Swansea, IL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 24 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 316 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 270 miles or 5 hours on the road.
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
The final approach into Atlanta, GA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Atlanta, GA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Atlanta, GA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$84.53 one way
$169.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
189 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $92.81 | $185.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $104.05 | $208.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $119.38 | $238.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$85
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$215–$325
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 189.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $57 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 162.2 | 2 | $56.77 | $25.95 |
| Efficient EV | 135.2 | 1 | $47.31 | $21.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 216.3 | 2 | $75.70 | $34.60 |
Gas CO2
189 kg
EV CO2
63 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Atlanta, GA
Evening in Atlanta on Friday
Local time
8:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
76°F
Saline, IL
178 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
23 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
9h 59m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Swansea, IL to Atlanta, GA covers 540.7 miles and takes about 9h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 24, I 75, I 64. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 270 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 270.3 miles from Swansea, IL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $84.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 540.7 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 290.1 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 295.2 miles (I 24): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 297.3 miles (I 24): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Swansea, IL and Atlanta, GA, road signs point toward Knoxville and Chattanooga.
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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