This 85.3-mile journey from Atlanta to Chatsworth, Georgia, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 1 hour and 49 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, it's an economical option for exploring the Southeast. The route primarily utilizes local roads, offering a more connected experience with the landscape rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Given its short duration and turn-heavy profile, it's perfect for a leisurely day trip, allowing ample time for exploration at your destination without feeling rushed. You'll stay within the state of Georgia for the entire drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.7 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 411
38.5 mi
54m
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
35.6 mi
40m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
8m
Downtown Connector
3.1 mi
4m
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.1 mi
<1m
Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Capitol Avenue Southeast
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 411
— 38.5 mi, about 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Chatsworth, GA.
1
Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast
69 ft·1 sec·Capitol Avenue Southeast
2
Turn slight right
156 ft·6 sec
3
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
257 ft·7 sec·Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.1 mi·13 sec·Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
6
Merge onto I 75; I 85
3.1 mi·4 min·Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi·8 min·Horace E Tate Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, ChattanoogaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 75
11 mi·12 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
25 mi·27 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 293Toward US 411: Chatsworth, WhiteUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
289 ft·7 sec
Toward US 411 North: ChatsworthUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 411; GA 61
1.6 mi·2 min·US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 411; GA 61
2.2 mi·3 min·US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto US 411; GA 61
35 mi·49 min·US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left
103 ft·8 sec
16
Turn right
116 ft·8 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this drive is just under two hours and primarily on local roads, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Atlanta in the morning, perhaps after the initial rush hour, will allow you to enjoy the drive without feeling pressured. There are no designated stops mentioned, so you can plan your breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast, Martin Luther King Jr, and I-75 North, to ensure you have enough for the entire 85.3 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $14 should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 42.7 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.7 miles or 50m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatsworth, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Atlanta, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Atlanta, GA
This is one driving day of about 85.3 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Atlanta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 411 for about 38.5 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 46.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North, I 85 North
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
8
3.5 mi into trip|~5m in|I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
8
21.3 mi into trip|~26m in|I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, Kennesaw
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway...
8
46.4 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward US 411: Chatsworth, White
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 293
Toward US 411: Chatsworth, White
7
46.8 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 411 North: Chatsworth
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 411 North: Chatsworth
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.34 one way
$26.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.58
$29.17
premium
$4.70
$15.79
$31.57
diesel
$5.61
$18.83
$37.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.6
0
$8.96
$4.09
Efficient EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
EV Truck/SUV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 20, 2026
Origin
Atlanta, GA
Late night
in Atlanta on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Chatsworth, GA
Late night
in Chatsworth on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 49m 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...
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,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 85.3-mile trip. The route begins on Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast and Martin Luther King Jr before merging onto I-75 North for a portion. However, with a 0% highway share, the majority of your time will be spent navigating local roads, offering a more intimate feel of the areas you pass through. This means you'll be actively steering and adjusting speed more frequently than on a typical interstate journey, so stay engaged. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the profile suggests a series of turns and changes in scenery.
54% 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: 38.5 mi on US 411.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 85.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles (I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Atlanta, GA and Chatsworth, GA, road signs point toward Kennesaw and White.
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.
Top landmarks
•Georgia State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Georgia
•Virginia-Highland — human settlement in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
•Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park — heritage site in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 85.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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 38.5 miles on US 411. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Chatsworth, 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles (I 75 / Larry McDonald Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Chatsworth, GA before heading back.
