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Trip from Atlanta, GA to Rydal, 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 5m

Distance

53.8 mi

87 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m

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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capital city of Georgia, United States

Atlanta, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rydal, GA, GA

Rydal, GA

Barnabas Davoti

Trip Overview

This 53.8-mile drive from Atlanta to Rydal, Georgia, is an easy one-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 5 minutes. Primarily using Larry McDonald Memorial Highway and Horace E Tate Freeway, with a portion on US 411, this route offers a local driving experience. With a modest fuel cost of around $8, it's an economical option for a short excursion within the Southeast region. The drive is best suited for a single day, allowing you to enjoy the journey without needing to break it up. It provides a straightforward transition from the city to a more rural setting.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway 35.6 mi 40m
Horace E Tate Freeway 7.2 mi 8m
US 411 7 mi 10m
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: Larry McDonald Memorial Highway — 35.6 mi, about 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Rydal, 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, Chattanooga Use 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, Kennesaw Use the straight lane.
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 293 Toward US 411: Chatsworth, White Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

289 ft · 7 sec
Toward US 411 North: Chatsworth Use 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

3.3 mi · 4 min · US 411; GA 61
Use the straight lane.
15

Arrive at destination

US 411; GA 61

Where to Stop

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

city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Acworth, GA

27 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

Vinings, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Acworth, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Atlanta, 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 9

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

$8.41 one way

$16.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 19 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $9.20 $18.40
premium $4.70 $9.96 $19.91
diesel $5.61 $11.88 $23.76

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 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 16.1 0 $5.65 $2.58
Efficient EV 13.5 0 $4.71 $2.15
EV Truck/SUV 21.5 0 $7.53 $3.44

Gas CO2

19 kg

EV CO2

6 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 16, 2026

Origin

Atlanta, GA

Late night in Atlanta on Sunday

Local time

3:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

86°F

Sunny

SW 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 12:59PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 15 at 8:01PM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA

Destination

Rydal, GA

Late night in Rydal on Sunday

Local time

3:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

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

31 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 5m 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 turn-heavy local drive on this route, with only 26% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.6 miles along Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. As you progress, the road will likely transition from freeway-style driving to more local roads, requiring your attention to navigation and speed limits. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise, but rather a more intimate experience with the Georgia landscape.

Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.6 mi on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 Rydal, GA, road signs point toward Chattanooga, Kennesaw and White.

Chattanooga

3.5 mi in | ~5m | via I 75

Kennesaw

21.3 mi in | ~26m | via I 75

White

46.4 mi in | ~54m

About the Cities

Starting 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 5m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.6 miles on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. 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 Rydal, 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 Rydal, 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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