Alpharetta, GA to Cairo, GA is 256.9 miles and takes about 5h 6m via I 75 and Fall Line Freeway, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Georgia, moving you from the Southeast region to its southern part. Given the relatively short drive time and predominantly highway profile, it's a straightforward route for a single day. Consider this an efficient way to cover ground if you're looking to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.4 miles from Alpharetta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 75
64.8 mi
1h 11m
Fall Line Freeway
56.9 mi
1h
Georgia-Florida Parkway
35.1 mi
43m
Liberty Expressway
24.9 mi
30m
Cairo Road
23.1 mi
31m
Larry Justice Highway
16.1 mi
17m
Turner McDonald Parkway
11 mi
13m
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
6.8 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 64.8 mi, about 1h 11m
Traffic on I-75
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 276 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~5,278 veh/hr typical
· worst 6,346
Quietest
2 AM
~881 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alpharetta, GA and Cairo, GA.
1
Start on Academy Street
139 ft·11 sec·Academy Street
2
Turn left onto GA 9
0.3 mi·31 sec·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto GA 120
0.2 mi·24 sec·Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn right onto Haynes Bridge Road
1.1 mi·1 min·Haynes Bridge Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 SouthUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto US 19; GA 400
11 mi·13 min·Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on GA 400
6.8 mi·8 min·T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 85
2.9 mi·4 min·Northeast Expressway
9
Continue on I 75; I 85
5.0 mi·6 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 75; I 85
2.3 mi·3 min·James Wendell George Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
16 mi·17 min·Larry Justice Highway
Exit 177Toward I 475 South: ValdostaUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
57 mi·1 hr·Fall Line Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 99Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto GA 300
35 mi·43 min·Georgia-Florida Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 82; GA 300; GA 520
1.5 mi·2 min·Clark Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Take the exit onto GA 300
0.4 mi·46 sec·GA 300
Use the right lane.
18
Merge onto US 19; GA 3; GA 133; GA 300
4.3 mi·5 min·Liberty Expressway
Use the left lane.
19
Take the exit onto US 19; GA 3; GA 300
21 mi·24 min·Liberty Expressway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on GA 37
0.7 mi·1 min·East Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto GA 97
0.5 mi·50 sec·South Butler Street
22
Turn right onto GA 97; GA 112
0.3 mi·32 sec·South Boulevard Street
23
Continue on GA 97; GA 112
23 mi·31 min·Cairo Road
Use the left lane.
24
At end of road, turn left onto US 84; GA 38
1.7 mi·3 min·US 84; GA 38
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto GA 188
0.4 mi·52 sec·5th Street Northeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn right onto 1st Avenue Northeast
269 ft·5 sec·1st Avenue Northeast
27
Arrive at destination
1st Avenue Northeast
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach Cairo well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $39, planning is fairly simple. You can comfortably complete this trip in one day, so there's no need to split the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the Fall Line Freeway, as services might be more spaced out compared to the initial interstate portion.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.4 miles from Alpharetta, GA, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.8 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 57 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.4 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cairo, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alpharetta, GA 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alpharetta, GA
This is one driving day of about 256.9 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Alpharetta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 75 for about 64.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 168 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|GA 9 / South Main Street
Turn left onto GA 9 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
6
30.2 mi into trip|~39m in|I 75
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
95 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 475 / Larry Justice Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 South: Valdosta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 177
Toward I 475 South: Valdosta
8
168 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, Albany
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 99
Toward GA 300 South: Georgia-Florida Parkway, A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.15 one way
$80.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.35
$43.98
$87.95
premium
$4.72
$47.74
$95.48
diesel
$6.28
$63.48
$126.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.1
0
$26.97
$12.33
Efficient EV
64.2
0
$22.48
$10.28
EV Truck/SUV
102.8
1
$35.97
$16.44
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Alpharetta, GA
Late night
in Alpharetta on Saturday
Local time
12:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
E 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 19 at 2:44AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Cairo, GA
Late night
in Cairo on Saturday
Local time
12:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Clear
NE 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 19 at 2:44AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 19 at 2:26AM EDT until October 22 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
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
8 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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,...
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 106.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 81% of the total distance on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 64.8 miles on I 75. Expect a more suburban feel with frequent exits as you leave the Atlanta metro area before transitioning to more open highway cruising on the Fall Line Freeway and Georgia-Florida Parkway. The latter portion of the drive will likely feel less congested than the initial miles.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Fall Line Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near GA 9 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 256.9 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: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,134 ft178 ft
Total Climb
167 ft
Total Descent
1,053 ft
Highest Point
1,134 ft
Elevation Range
956 ft
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 Alpharetta, GA to Cairo, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 256.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.8 miles on I 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Cairo, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.2 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Cairo, GA before the return drive.
