Origin
Union City, GA
Evening in Union City on Wednesday
Local time
8:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Union City, GA to Atlanta, GA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
26m
Distance
17.5 mi
28 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Union City, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Union City to Atlanta, you are looking at a quick 17.5-mile journey that typically takes about 23 minutes. Since this is a straightforward trip within the Southeast, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the entire distance. Navigating this route involves sticking to local roads like Limerick Drive, Kilkenny Drive, and Bally Shannon Drive. Given the short duration and simple logistics, it functions perfectly as a flexible day trip for anyone needing to move between these two Georgia locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
8.7 miles from Union City, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route features zero highway driving. You will spend your time navigating through local neighborhood streets, meaning there is no long-distance cruising involved. In fact, the longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Limerick Drive. Because the entire 17.5-mile trip is comprised of surface streets, you should prepare for a series of turns and stop-and-go maneuvers. This is a practical, utilitarian drive that keeps you off the major highways entirely.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 85 is the longest continuous segment at about 13.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Flat Shoals Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Kilkenny Drive.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (Kilkenny Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Kilkenny Drive
At end of road, turn left onto Kilkenny Drive
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
2.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward I 85 North: Atlanta
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
8
16.1 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia State University
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 246
Toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia S...
8
16.4 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Fulton Street, Zoo Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Fulton Street, Zoo Atlanta
6
16.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
Fulton Street Southwest
Turn right onto Fulton Street Southwest
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.
Between Union City, GA and Atlanta, GA, road signs point toward Georgia State University and Zoo Atlanta.
Georgia State University
16.1 mi in
|
~23m
Zoo Atlanta
16.4 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| Flat Shoals Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Fulton Street Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Limerick Drive | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bally Shannon Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bantry Circle | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kilkenny Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 13.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union City, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on Bantry Circle
267 ft
·
18 sec
·
Bantry Circle
2
Turn left onto Limerick Drive
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Limerick Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto Kilkenny Drive
205 ft
·
11 sec
·
Kilkenny Drive
4
Turn right onto Bally Shannon Drive
498 ft
·
27 sec
·
Bally Shannon Drive
5
Turn left onto Flat Shoals Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Flat Shoals Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 85 North: Atlanta
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 85
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 246
Toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia State University
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward Fulton Street, Zoo Atlanta
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right onto Fulton Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Fulton Street Southwest
Use the left / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
12
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
Because this 23-minute trek is so brief, you have total flexibility regarding your departure time and pace. You will not need to plan for any stops along the way, as the short duration makes a direct trip the most efficient option. Keep in mind that since the route relies exclusively on local roads, you should stay alert for frequent turns rather than settling into a highway rhythm. Factor in your $3 fuel budget before heading out to ensure a smooth transition between Union City and Atlanta. Since you will be navigating multiple local drives, keeping your GPS active will help you manage the transitions between Limerick, Kilkenny, and Bally Shannon drives.
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 8.7 miles from Union City, GA, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.7 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 17.5 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.7 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Union City, GA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, GA
This is one driving day of about 17.5 miles and 26m.
At 17.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on I 85 for about 13.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.7 mi from Union City, GA · 14m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 17.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.7 miles from Union City, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Atlanta, GA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.74 one way
$5.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $2.99 | $5.98 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.86 | $7.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| Efficient EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7 | 0 | $2.45 | $1.12 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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
Atlanta, GA
Evening in Atlanta on Wednesday
Local time
8:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 13 at 12:31PM EDT until April 13 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:57AM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
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
32 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
26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Union City, GA to Atlanta, GA covers 17.5 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 85, Flat Shoals Road, Capitol Avenue Southeast. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.7 miles from Union City, GA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.74 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 17.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.2 miles (Kilkenny Drive): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 2.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Union City, GA and Atlanta, GA, road signs point toward Georgia State University and Zoo Atlanta.
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