Origin
Alto, GA
Late night in Alto on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alto, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
73.5 mi
118 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alto, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Alto, GA to Atlanta, GA is 73.5 miles and takes about 1h 26m via I 85, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive connects two locations within the Southeast region, both in Georgia. It's a common commuter route, making it a practical choice if you're looking for efficiency rather than extensive sightseeing. Plan for a quick journey, ideal for a single-day trip with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 31.2 mi | 36m |
| Lanier Parkway | 24.2 mi | 26m |
| Cornelia Highway | 13 mi | 15m |
| Tommy Irwin Parkway | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| B C Grant Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Wilbanks Road | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 31.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alto, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on Gainesville Highway
60 ft
·
6 sec
·
Gainesville Highway
2
Turn left onto B C Grant Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
B C Grant Road
3
Turn left onto Wilbanks Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Wilbanks Road
4
Turn left onto US 23; GA 365
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Tommy Irwin Parkway
5
Continue on US 23; GA 365
13 mi
·
15 min
·
Cornelia Highway
6
Continue on I 985; US 23
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Lanier Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 85
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
25 mi
·
29 min
·
I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
11
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
13
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Alto, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 41.8 and 73.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
41.8 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
48.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m 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...
6
73.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Capitol Square Southwest
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
73.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.49 one way
$22.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $12.57 | $25.13 |
| premium | $4.70 | $13.60 | $27.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.23 | $32.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.72 | $3.53 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.43 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph
0% chance
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
38 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 80% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 85 and Lanier Parkway. You'll experience a mostly high-speed journey, including a longest uninterrupted stretch of 31.2 miles on I 85. Expect a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip. While Cornelia Highway offers a brief alternative, the character remains largely that of a swift, direct connection between your starting and ending points.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.2 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Lanier Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 41.8 miles in near I 85.
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 73.5 miles you will encounter 8 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 41.8 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Full guide →Atlanta is the vanguard of the New South, with the charm and elegance of the Old. It's a city that balances southern traditions with sleek modernism, and southern hospitality with three skylines and the world’s busiest airport. It's a city that has been burnt to the ground and built back up; seen the horrors of war; felt the pain of droughts and floods; and given birth to Martin Luther King, Jr., the greatest figure of the civil rights movement. Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia.
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 1h 26m. Total distance: 73.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.2 miles on I 85. 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 Atlanta, 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: at 41.8 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park and Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. 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 Atlanta, 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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