Traveling from Arlington to Atlanta covers 189.8 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 46 minutes. Because this trip is manageable within a single day, you don't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You will primarily navigate via the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, US 27, and the Chet Atkins Parkway. Budgeting around $30 for fuel should be sufficient for the journey through this corner of the Southeast. Whether you are heading to the city for business or leisure, this route offers a straightforward connection between the two Georgia locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
94.9 miles from Arlington, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
58.8 mi
1h 5m
US 27
52.6 mi
1h 2m
Chet Atkins Parkway
49.2 mi
53m
Martha Berry Highway
10.9 mi
14m
Hartford Street West
7.1 mi
10m
GA 216
7 mi
12m
Dogwood Avenue Northwest
1.3 mi
2m
Downtown Connector
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arlington, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on GA 62
0.1 mi·15 sec·Pioneer Road
2
Turn right onto Dogwood Avenue Northwest
1.3 mi·2 min·Dogwood Avenue Northwest
3
Continue on GA 216
7.0 mi·12 min·GA 216
4
Turn left onto GA 37
7.1 mi·10 min·Hartford Street West
5
Take the ramp
508 ft·14 sec
Toward US 27, GA 1: Cuthbert
6
Merge onto US 27; GA 1
53 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 27; GA 1
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto US 27; US 280; GA 1; GA 520
11 mi·14 min·Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
10
Continue on I 185
49 mi·53 min·Chet Atkins Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 85
59 mi·1 hr 5 min·Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 75; I 85
0.5 mi·40 sec·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 246Toward Fulton Street, Central Avenue, Georgia State UniversityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward Fulton Street, Zoo AtlantaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn right onto Fulton Street Southwest
0.2 mi·27 sec·Fulton Street Southwest
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.5 mi·56 sec·Capitol Avenue Southeast
17
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Trip Plan
For the best experience, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the nearly four-hour drive. Since the entire trip is achievable in one day, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is a good habit given the $30 estimate. Make sure to account for potential traffic fluctuations as you near your destination, as the final approach into Atlanta can vary significantly in duration. Using the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for your longest stretch is the most efficient way to maintain momentum, so try to time your breaks around the segments following that primary road.
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 94.9 miles from Arlington, GA, or about 2h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.8 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 42 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.9 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlanta, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Arlington, 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 Arlington, GA
This is one driving day of about 189.8 miles and 3h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Arlington, 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 Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway for about 58.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.7 and 189.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.7 mi into trip|~25m in|US 27; GA 1
Merge onto US 27; GA 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 185 North: LaGrange, Atlanta
8
188.5 mi into trip|~3h 43m 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
188.7 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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
189.1 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|Fulton Street Southwest
Turn right onto Fulton Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.68 one way
$59.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$32.45
$64.91
premium
$4.70
$35.13
$70.26
diesel
$5.61
$41.91
$83.81
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.9
0
$19.93
$9.11
Efficient EV
47.5
0
$16.61
$7.59
EV Truck/SUV
75.9
0
$26.57
$12.15
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Arlington, GA
Late night
in Arlington on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atlanta, GA
Late night
in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
12:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Columbus, GA
95 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
4 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
3h 46m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
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,...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
$5
near mile 189.8
Few U.S. Presidents have had such close ties with where they were born and raised. The rural southern culture of Plains, Georgia revolves around farming, church, and school, which had a large influenc...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 45.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed driving profile, balancing local roads with faster highway stretches. You will spend roughly 57% of your time on highways, providing a nice change of pace from the more rural sections of the journey. Expect your longest uninterrupted segment to be a 58.8-mile stretch along the Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway, which allows you to settle into a steady rhythm. As you transition between these different road types, the character of the drive shifts from quieter corridors to more heavily trafficked paths as you approach the Atlanta area.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.8 mi on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway.
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 around 15.7 miles in near US 27; GA 1.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 189.8 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: at 15.7 miles (US 27; GA 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 189.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.8 miles on Pearl Harbor Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.7 miles (US 27; GA 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 188.5 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, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Atlanta, GA, but most travelers stay overnight.
