Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 4m
Distance
217.3 mi
350 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Ray City, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA to Ray City, GA is 217.3 miles and takes about 4h 4m via Fall Line Freeway and I 75, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, starting in the Southeast region and heading south. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip, making it a solid choice for a single-day journey. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, so if you're looking for a simple transit between these two points, this route delivers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
108.6 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Line Freeway | 116.3 mi | 2h 4m |
| I 75 | 64.8 mi | 1h 11m |
| Larry Justice Highway | 16.1 mi | 17m |
| West 4th Street | 15.4 mi | 22m |
| James Wendell George Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Downtown Connector | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Pulliam Street Southwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Ray City, GA.
Start on Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
Turn left onto Washington Street Southwest
Continue on Pulliam Street Southwest
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 75; I 85
Continue on I 75; I 85
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475
Merge onto I 75; GA 540
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn slight left onto GA 37
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour duration, leaving Atlanta in the morning allows ample time to reach Ray City well before evening. The longest stretch without a major town is 116.3 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before embarking on that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $34, it's an economical trip. Since this is a one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart later if needed, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace and avoids potential rush hour traffic leaving Atlanta.
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.
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 48 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.6 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ray City, GA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Atlanta, 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 Atlanta, GA
This is one driving day of about 217.3 miles and 4h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 108.6 miles from Atlanta, GA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Fall Line Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 116.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 201.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 75
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 475 / Larry Justice Highway toward I 475 South: Valdosta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward GA 37: Adel, Moultrie, Nashville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward GA 37 East: Adel, Nashville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$33.98 one way
$67.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $37.15 | $74.31 |
| premium | $4.70 | $40.22 | $80.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.98 | $95.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.2 | 0 | $22.82 | $10.43 |
| Efficient EV | 54.3 | 0 | $19.01 | $8.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.9 | 1 | $30.42 | $13.91 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Ray City on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Historical Park
Welcome to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park. This park is a prehistoric American Indian site, where many different American Indian cultures occupied this land for thousands of years. American...
National Recreation Area
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.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of it spent on major roadways. Expect long stretches of efficient travel, including one uninterrupted segment of 116.3 miles on the Fall Line Freeway. The character of the drive is largely consistent, emphasizing speed and directness rather than winding backroads. While primarily interstate, you will transition onto roads like Larry Justice Highway closer to your destination, offering a slight shift in scenery as you approach Ray City.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Fall Line Freeway and I 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 217.3 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: near the start (Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (I 75): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 69.1 miles (I 475 / Larry Justice Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Atlanta, GA and Ray City, GA, road signs point toward Moultrie and Nashville.
Moultrie
Nashville
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 217.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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