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Trip from Brookhaven, GA to Athens, 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 24m

Distance

64.1 mi

103 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in western DeKalb County, Georgia, United States

Brookhaven, GA

Wikimedia Commons

consolidated city-county and county seat of Clarke County, Georgia, United States

Athens, GA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Brookhaven, GA to Athens, GA is 64.1 miles and takes about 1h 24m via University Parkway and Interstate Highway 85, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a drive that's mostly highway, making it a straightforward and efficient journey. Given the short duration, it's an ideal option for a same-day excursion or a quick commute, offering a simple transition between these two points.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
University Parkway 38.4 mi 47m
Interstate Highway 85 8.8 mi 9m
GA Inner Loop 10 3.7 mi 4m
Northeast Expressway 2.5 mi 2m
Chamblee Tucker Road 2.3 mi 4m
Peachtree Road Northeast 2.1 mi 3m
Prince Avenue 1.8 mi 3m
Inner Loop 10 1.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: University Parkway — 38.4 mi, about 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brookhaven, GA and Athens, GA.

1

Start on this road

397 ft · 34 sec · this road
2

Turn left

63 ft · 9 sec
3

Turn left

139 ft · 12 sec
4

Turn right onto GA 141

2.1 mi · 3 min · Peachtree Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
5

Continue on Peachtree Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Peachtree Road
6

Turn right onto Chamblee Tucker Road

2.3 mi · 4 min · Chamblee Tucker Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 85 North: Greenville Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto I 85

2.5 mi · 2 min · Northeast Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on I 85

8.8 mi · 9 min · Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 37 sec
Exit 106 Toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens
11

Continue on GA 316

38 mi · 47 min · University Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

380 ft · 12 sec
Use the left lane.
13

Turn left onto Oconee Connector

0.6 mi · 1 min · Oconee Connector
Use the left lane.
14

Turn left

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Use the left lane.
15

Merge onto GA 10 Loop

1.3 mi · 1 min · Inner Loop 10
16

Continue on GA 10 Loop

3.7 mi · 4 min · GA Inner Loop 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on GA 10 Loop

0.4 mi · 25 sec · Inner Loop 10
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 14 Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto US 129

195 ft · 12 sec · US 129
20

Turn left onto GA 15 Alternate

1.8 mi · 3 min · Prince Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21

Continue on West Dougherty Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · West Dougherty Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22

Turn left onto North Lumpkin Street

101 ft · 2 sec · North Lumpkin Street
Use the left lane.
23

Arrive at destination

North Lumpkin Street

Where to Stop

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

city in Barrow and Gwinnett counties, Georgia, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Auburn, GA

32 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

Lilburn, GA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dacula, GA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Brookhaven, 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 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 64.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast

Turn right onto GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
5.1 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the ramp toward I 85 North: Greenville

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 85 North: Greenville
6
16.6 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the exit toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 106 Toward GA 316 East: Lawrenceville, Athens
8
61.8 mi into trip | ~1h 19m in

Take the exit toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson

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 14 Toward US 129 North: Prince Avenue, Jefferson
7
64.1 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | North Lumpkin Street

Turn left onto North Lumpkin Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$10.02 one way

$20.05 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $10.96 $21.92
premium $4.70 $11.86 $23.73
diesel $5.61 $14.15 $28.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.2 0 $6.73 $3.08
Efficient EV 16 0 $5.61 $2.56
EV Truck/SUV 25.6 0 $8.97 $4.10

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 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 15, 2026

Origin

Brookhaven, GA

Late night in Brookhaven on Sunday

Local time

1:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Athens, GA

Late night in Athens on Sunday

Local time

1:59 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

79°F

Auburn, GA

32 mi in

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

3 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 24m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is heavily focused on highway driving, with 78% of the journey taking place on major roads like Interstate Highway 85 and GA Inner Loop 10. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 38.4 miles on University Parkway, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The profile suggests a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll likely encounter efficient travel with minimal detours or slower local roads. It's designed for getting you from point A to point B with relative speed and ease.

78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.4 mi on University Parkway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and Interstate Highway 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast.

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 64.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.1 miles (GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 64.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.4 miles on University Parkway. 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 Athens, 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 0.1 miles (GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 16.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. 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 Athens, 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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