Origin
Alpharetta, GA
Night in Alpharetta on Wednesday
Local time
10:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alpharetta, GA to Washington, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 10, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 16m
Distance
102.6 mi
165 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 7m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 23m
12 PM
2h 21m
3 PM
2h 24m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alpharetta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Washington, GA
Samad Ismayilov
Trip Overview
Alpharetta to Washington is 102.6 miles and takes about 2h 16m via University Parkway and Lexington Road, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, moving you from the Southeast region toward its eastern side. Expect a mix of driving experiences, with a significant portion on highways before transitioning to surface roads. It's a straightforward drive, making it a good option if you're looking for a shorter, manageable trip between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Alpharetta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Parkway | 34.2 mi | 41m |
| Lexington Road | 21.7 mi | 27m |
| Washington Road | 9.3 mi | 10m |
| Athens Road | 8.4 mi | 9m |
| Duluth Highway | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Outer Loop 10 | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| State Bridge Road | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| Old Milton Parkway | 3.9 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
University Parkway
— 34.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alpharetta, GA and Washington, 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
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Old Milton Parkway
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on GA 120
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Bridge Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto State Bridge Road
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Bridge Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Pleasant Hill Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Pleasant Hill Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto Howell Ferry Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Howell Ferry Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on McClure Bridge Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
McClure Bridge Road
9
Enter roundabout onto West Lawrenceville Street
129 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Lawrenceville Street
10
Continue on West Lawrenceville Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lawrenceville Street
11
Continue on GA 120
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Duluth Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp onto US 29; GA 8
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 29; GA 8
Toward GA 316 East, US 29 North, GA 8 North: Winder
Use the left lane.
13
Merge onto GA 316; US 29; GA 8
34 mi
·
41 min
·
University Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 29; US 78; GA 8
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 29; US 78; GA 8
Toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Outer: University of Georgia, Lexington, Hartwell
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto US 29; US 78; GA 8; GA 10 Loop
6.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Outer Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto US 78
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 78
Exit 8
Toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington Road
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on US 78; GA 10
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lexington Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 78; GA 10
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Lexington Highway
19
Continue on US 78; GA 10
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Lexington Road
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on US 78; GA 10
8.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Athens Road
21
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 22
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
Main Street
22
Continue on US 78; GA 10; GA 22
9.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Washington Road
23
Continue on US 78; GA 10
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Lexington Road
24
Turn right onto GA 44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Mercer Street
25
Turn left onto US 78 BUS; GA 10 BUS
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
West Robert Toombs Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
US 78 BUS; GA 10 BUS; GA 47
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour in Alpharetta and arrive in Washington with ample daylight. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, you can easily budget for gas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from highway to surface roads, as services might be less frequent.
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 51.3 miles from Alpharetta, GA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.2 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 23 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 102.6 miles and 2h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Alpharetta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on University Parkway for about 34.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.3 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 60.6 — 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
5.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
State Bridge Road
Keep slight right at fork onto State Bridge Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 29; GA 8
Take the ramp onto US 29; GA 8 toward GA 316 East, US 29 North, GA 8 North: Winder
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward GA 316 East, US 29 North, GA 8 North: Wi...
7
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
US 29; US 78; GA 8
Take the exit onto US 29; US 78; GA 8 toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Outer: University of Georgia, Lexington, Hartwell
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward US 29 North, US 78 East, GA 10 Loop Oute...
8
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
US 78
Take the exit onto US 78 toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington Road
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 8
Toward US 78, GA 10: Oconee Street, Lexington R...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.04 one way
$32.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.35 | $17.58 | $35.16 |
| premium | $4.72 | $19.06 | $38.12 |
| diesel | $5.97 | $24.10 | $48.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-09-07.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.77 | $4.92 |
| Efficient EV | 25.7 | 0 | $8.98 | $4.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41 | 0 | $14.36 | $6.57 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Washington, GA
Night in Washington on Wednesday
Local time
10:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Russell, GA
51 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.
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
1 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
2h 16m 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 102.6-mile route features 38% highway driving. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving for 34.2 miles on University Parkway. After this highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads, likely noticing a change in traffic patterns and speed limits. The overall profile is a mix, so be prepared for both faster highway cruising and more local road driving.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.2 mi on University Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near GA 9 / South Main Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.6 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (State Bridge Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (US 29; GA 8): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alpharetta, GA and Washington, GA, road signs point toward Lexington and Hartwell.
Lexington
53.9 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 29; US 78; GA 8
Hartwell
53.9 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via US 29; US 78; GA 8
About the Cities
Starting in Alpharetta, GA
Full guide →Arriving in Washington, GA
Full guide →Founded 1774
Top landmarks
- • Robert Toombs House State Historic Site — historic property in Washington, Georgia, United States
- • Callaway Plantation — historic house museum and plantation in Washington, Georgia, United States of Am...
- • Wilkes County Courthouse — courthouse in Georgia, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 16m. Total distance: 102.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.2 miles on University 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 Washington, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (GA 9 / South Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.2 miles (State Bridge Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (US 29; GA 8): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Washington, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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