If you are planning a quick getaway from Atlanta to Union Point, expect a straightforward journey covering 83.5 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes, making it a manageable day trip that requires no overnight stay. You should budget roughly $13 for fuel to complete the one-way transit. Navigating through the Southeast, you will find this route keeps you within Georgia for the duration of your travel. It serves as an efficient way to transition from the city atmosphere of Atlanta to the smaller community of Union Point without the need for multiple stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Atlanta, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
46.9 mi
50m
Carl Sanders Highway
15.9 mi
17m
Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
9.3 mi
11m
Union Point Highway
5.1 mi
7m
South Main Street
2.6 mi
4m
East Broad Street
2.1 mi
3m
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
0.4 mi
<1m
Hill Street Southeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 46.9 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlanta, GA and Union Point, 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
0.4 mi·47 sec·Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
5
Turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
0.3 mi·58 sec·Hill Street Southeast
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
7
Merge onto I 20
9.3 mi·11 min·Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 20
47 mi·50 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 20
16 mi·17 min·Carl Sanders Highway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 130Toward GA 44: Greensboro, EatontonUse the left lane.
11
Turn left onto GA 44
0.2 mi·18 sec·Lake Oconee Parkway
12
Continue on GA 44
2.6 mi·4 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto US 278; GA 12; GA 15; GA 44
2.1 mi·3 min·East Broad Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 278; GA 12; GA 44
5.1 mi·7 min·Union Point Highway
15
Turn left onto Scott Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·Scott Street
16
Turn left onto Carlton Avenue
319 ft·13 sec·Carlton Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Carlton Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Because there are no designated stops on this 83.5-mile path, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave Atlanta to avoid searching for stations along the local roads. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert for frequent directional changes. Given the 1 hour and 38 minute duration, you can easily handle the drive in one go without needing a break. Focus on navigating the specific sequence of MLK Drive and Hill Street to keep your travel time efficient.
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 41.7 miles from Atlanta, GA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.9 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 18 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 47m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union Point, 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 83.5 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Atlanta, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Highway for about 46.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 76.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|Hill Street Southeast
Turn right onto Hill Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward I 20 East: Augusta
Navigation decision point
Toward I 20 East: Augusta
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward GA 44: Greensboro, Eatonton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 130
Toward GA 44: Greensboro, Eatonton
5
76.2 mi into trip|~1h 26m in|US 278; GA 12; GA 15; GA 44 / East Broad Street
Turn right onto US 278; GA 12; GA 15; GA 44 / East Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.06 one way
$26.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.28
$28.55
premium
$4.70
$15.45
$30.91
diesel
$5.61
$18.44
$36.87
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: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.1
0
$8.77
$4.01
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.31
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.69
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Atlanta, GA
Morning
in Atlanta on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Union Point, GA
Morning
in Union Point on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
82°F
Covington, GA
42 mi in
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
32 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 38m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive, as this route relies entirely on surface streets rather than interstate highways. You will navigate through city sections using Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southeast, Martin Luther King Jr, and Hill Street Southeast to reach your destination. Because the highway share is 0%, your focus will remain on local roads rather than high-speed cruising. This personality of the route demands more attention to turns and neighborhood traffic patterns compared to a standard highway haul. Expect a consistent, low-speed pace that reflects the local nature of these specific roads.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.9 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Hill Street Southeast.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.5 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 0.5 miles (Hill Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Union Point, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Eatonton 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.
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 38m. Total distance: 83.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.9 miles on Purple Heart Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (Hill Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (I 20 / Ralph David Abernathy Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Union Point, GA before heading back.
