Origin
Alpharetta, GA
Late night in Alpharetta on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alpharetta, GA to Gainesville, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
52m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alpharetta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Gainesville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Alpharetta and Gainesville, Georgia, expect a straightforward 37.5-mile journey that typically takes about 52 minutes. This trip is perfect for a quick one-day excursion, as the distance is short enough that you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budget roughly $6 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Navigating this route involves a combination of Turner McDonald Parkway, Dawsonville Highway, and Keith Bridge Road. It is an efficient connection that works well for those looking to reach their destination quickly without a long haul on the road.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Turner McDonald Parkway | 16.2 mi | 18m |
| Dawsonville Highway | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| Keith Bridge Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| Old Milton Parkway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| John W Morrow Parkway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Academy Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Turner McDonald Parkway
— 16.2 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alpharetta, GA and Gainesville, 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
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 19 North, GA 400 North
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto US 19; GA 400
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 17
Toward GA 306: Gainesville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
87 ft
·
3 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto GA 306
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Keith Bridge Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto GA 53
9.9 mi
·
14 min
·
Dawsonville Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on GA 53 Connector
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
John W Morrow Parkway
11
Turn left onto GA 60; GA 369
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Green Street
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Green Street
13
Arrive at destination
Green Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Alpharetta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.4 — 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.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward US 19 North, GA 400 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 19 North, GA 400 North
7
18.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward GA 306: Gainesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17
Toward GA 306: Gainesville
6
18.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
26.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
GA 53 / Dawsonville Highway
Turn right onto GA 53 / Dawsonville Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.86 one way
$11.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.94 | $13.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.28 | $16.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Gainesville, GA
Late night in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
12:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed profile, balancing faster highway travel with more localized road segments. You will spend about 50% of your time on highways, providing a steady rhythm before transitioning to different road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 16.2 miles along the Turner McDonald Parkway. As you move away from the initial highway portions, the character of the drive shifts, requiring you to remain attentive to changing road conditions. It is a functional drive that moves you steadily through the region without being overly monotonous or excessively technical.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.2 mi on Turner McDonald Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 52m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.2 miles on Turner McDonald Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Gainesville, GA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gainesville, GA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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