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Trip from Athens, GA to Dunwoody, 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 23m

Distance

61.8 mi

99 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 17m ★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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consolidated city-county and county seat of Clarke County, Georgia, United States

Athens, GA

Wikimedia Commons

city in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States

Dunwoody, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Athens to Dunwoody covers 61.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 23 minutes. This direct route is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly commute or getaway. By utilizing University Parkway, I-85, and Outer Loop 10, you stay within the Southeast region for the entire journey. It is a straightforward, efficient path that prioritizes speed over sightseeing, perfect for when you need to get between these two Georgia hubs quickly.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
University Parkway 35.2 mi 43m
I 85 9 mi 9m
Outer Loop 10 3.2 mi 3m
Atlanta Highway 2.3 mi 4m
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter 2.3 mi 2m
Prince Avenue 2.1 mi 4m
Chamblee Dunwoody Road 1.5 mi 3m
Monroe Highway 1.2 mi 1m
Longest stretch: University Parkway — 35.2 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Athens, GA and Dunwoody, GA.

1

Start on North Lumpkin Street

101 ft · 6 sec · North Lumpkin Street
2

Turn right onto West Dougherty Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · West Dougherty Street
3

Continue on Prince Avenue

2.1 mi · 4 min · Prince Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Turn left

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward GA 10 Loop South Use the left lane.
5

Merge onto GA 10 Loop

3.2 mi · 3 min · Outer Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 18 Toward US 78 Business, GA 10: Atlanta Highway, Monroe Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork

268 ft · 6 sec
Toward GA 10, US 78 Bus
8

Turn right onto US 78 Business; GA 10

2.3 mi · 4 min · Atlanta Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Turn slight left onto US 78 Business; GA 10

1.2 mi · 1 min · Monroe Highway
Use the left lane.
10

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward US 29 West, GA 316 West: Atlanta Use the right lane.
11

Merge onto US 29; GA 8; GA 316

35 mi · 43 min · University Parkway
Use the left lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
13

Merge onto I 85

9.0 mi · 9 min · I 85
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 95B Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 32 sec
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 285

2.3 mi · 2 min · Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 30 Toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Continue on Cotillion Drive

0.5 mi · 1 min · Cotillion Drive
Use the straight lane.
19

Turn right onto North Shallowford Road

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Shallowford Road
20

Continue on Chamblee Dunwoody Way

404 ft · 11 sec · Chamblee Dunwoody Way
21

Continue on Chamblee Dunwoody Road

1.5 mi · 3 min · Chamblee Dunwoody Road
22

Turn left

90 ft · 2 sec
Use the left lane.
23

Turn right

79 ft · 5 sec
24

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Russell, GA, GA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Russell, GA

31 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

Statham, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dacula, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Athens, 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 18

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 58.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
5.7 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward US 78 Business, GA 10: Atlanta Highway, Monroe

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 18 Toward US 78 Business, GA 10: Atlanta Highway,...
7
5.9 mi into trip | ~9m in

Keep slight left at fork toward GA 10, US 78 Bus

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward GA 10, US 78 Bus
8
55.2 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham

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 95B Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingh...
8
55.8 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
8
58.5 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Take the exit toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road

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 30 Toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$9.66 one way

$19.33 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.57 $21.13
premium $4.70 $11.44 $22.88
diesel $5.61 $13.64 $27.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.5 0 $6.49 $2.97
Efficient EV 15.5 0 $5.41 $2.47
EV Truck/SUV 24.7 0 $8.65 $3.96

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 12, 2026

Origin

Athens, GA

Afternoon in Athens on Sunday

Local time

4:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

SE 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 5:07AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 4:03AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA

Destination

Dunwoody, GA

Afternoon in Dunwoody on Sunday

Local time

4:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

85°F

Sunny

SE 0 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 12 at 5:07AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 12 at 4:03AM EDT until April 12 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA

84°F

Russell, GA

31 mi in

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 23m 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?

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 71% of this drive is spent on major thoroughfares. The road’s personality is defined by its efficiency, with a significant 35.2-mile uninterrupted stretch along University Parkway serving as the backbone of your journey. You will transition from regional highways onto the interstate, maintaining a consistent pace that minimizes the need for technical maneuvering. While the character of the road remains utilitarian, the shift from the surroundings of Athens to the more urbanized approach of Dunwoody keeps the drive feeling progressive rather than stagnant. It is a functional, no-nonsense path designed for steady travel.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on University Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,130 ft 746 ft

Total Climb

724 ft

Total Descent

347 ft

Highest Point

1,130 ft

~61.8 mi in

Elevation Range

384 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Athens, GA and Dunwoody, GA, road signs point toward Monroe and Birmingham.

Monroe

5.7 mi in | ~9m

Birmingham

55.2 mi in | ~1h 10m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.2 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 Dunwoody, 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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Dunwoody, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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