Atlanta to Summerville is 89.1 miles and takes about 1h 51m via Larry McDonald Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. Expect a local feel for most of this trip, which is best suited for a single-day adventure. Given the relatively short distance and time, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart when you're ready and still arrive with ample daylight.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.5 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
47.9 mi
53m
Martha Berry Highway
13.3 mi
17m
Turkey Mountain Road Northeast
7.7 mi
11m
Horace E Tate Freeway
7.2 mi
8m
Adairsville Highway
5.7 mi
9m
Downtown Connector
3.1 mi
4m
Adairsville Road Northeast
2.6 mi
4m
East Washington Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
— 47.9 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Summerville, 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
37 mi·40 min·Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Toward I 75 North: Chattanooga, Barrett Parkway, KennesawUse the straight lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 306Toward GA 140: Adairsville, SummervilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on GA 140
1.2 mi·1 min·Adairsville Highway
Use the slight left lane.
12
Turn slight left
465 ft·9 sec
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Continue on GA 140
4.5 mi·7 min·Adairsville Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Continue on GA 140
2.6 mi·4 min·Adairsville Road Northeast
15
Continue on GA 140
7.7 mi·11 min·Turkey Mountain Road Northeast
16
Turn right onto US 27; GA 1
13 mi·17 min·Martha Berry Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn slight right onto East Washington Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·East Washington Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this is a straightforward same-day trip, so there's no need to rush your departure. You can leave Atlanta whenever it's convenient and still reach Summerville comfortably. Since the longest stretch is under 50 miles, you won't need to worry about extended periods without services, though it's always wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when leaving more populated areas. A good tip for this drive is to be prepared for the 'turn-heavy' nature and have your navigation ready for the numerous local road transitions.
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 44.5 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.9 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 51m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summerville, 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 89.1 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Atlanta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway for about 47.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 58.7 — 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
5
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector
Merge onto I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
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
58.7 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward GA 140: Adairsville, Summerville
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 306
Toward GA 140: Adairsville, Summerville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.93 one way
$27.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.23
$30.47
premium
$4.70
$16.49
$32.98
diesel
$5.61
$19.67
$39.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.7
0
$9.36
$4.28
Efficient EV
22.3
0
$7.80
$3.56
EV Truck/SUV
35.6
0
$12.47
$5.70
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Morning
in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
11:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summerville, GA
Morning
in Summerville on Sunday
Local time
11:56 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
21 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
1h 51m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 8% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.9 miles along the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway. As you progress, you'll transition from the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway to Martha Berry Highway and finally Turkey Mountain Road Northeast. The drive's personality leans towards navigating local roads, so be prepared for more frequent changes in direction and speed.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.9 mi on Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 89.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Atlanta, GA to Summerville, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Kennesaw along the way.
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 1h 51m. Total distance: 89.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.9 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 Summerville, 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 0.4 miles (I 75; I 85 / Downtown Connector): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Summerville, GA before heading back.
