Origin
Brookhaven, GA
Late night in Brookhaven on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brookhaven, GA to Jefferson, GA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
53 mi
85 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookhaven, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Jefferson, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 53-mile drive from Brookhaven, GA to Jefferson, GA is a quick trip, averaging just over an hour to complete. Primarily utilizing I-85 and US-129, this route is almost entirely focused on highway travel, making it an ideal day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of around $8, it’s an economical option for a short getaway or errand. Given the short distance and efficient highway access, you won't need to break this journey up with an overnight stay. The drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a familiar landscape as you travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 85 | 24.1 mi | 25m |
| Interstate Highway 85 | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| US 129 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Northeast Expressway | 2.5 mi | 2m |
| Chamblee Tucker Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Peachtree Road Northeast | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Old Pendergrass Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Peachtree Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 24.1 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookhaven, GA and Jefferson, 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
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Interstate Highway 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 85
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 85
Toward I 85 North: Gainesville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward US 129, GA 11: Gainesville, Jefferson
13
Merge onto US 129; GA 11
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 129; GA 11
14
Turn left onto Old Pendergrass Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Pendergrass Road
15
Turn slight right onto US 129 Business; GA 11 Business
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Washington Street
16
Continue on Gordon Street
414 ft
·
23 sec
·
Gordon Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn left
431 ft
·
31 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.5 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 23.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
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.
5
2.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Chamblee Tucker Road
Turn right onto Chamblee Tucker Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
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
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
|
I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85 toward I 85 North: Gainesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 85 North: Gainesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.29 one way
$16.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.06 | $18.12 |
| premium | $4.70 | $9.81 | $19.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.70 | $23.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.5 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 | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.42 | $3.39 |
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.
Destination
Jefferson, GA
Late night in Jefferson on Tuesday
Local time
5:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°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
1 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 5m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 85% of the journey on high-speed interstates like I-85. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of 24.1 miles on I-85, allowing for consistent progress. While the main roads are interstate highways, the transition to US-129 may offer a slight change of pace, though still maintaining a generally efficient driving profile. This isn't a winding scenic byway; it's a direct path designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.1 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 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.
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 miles you will encounter 12 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (Chamblee Tucker Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 53 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.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.1 miles on I 85. 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 Jefferson, 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: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (GA 141 / Peachtree Road Northeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles (Chamblee Tucker Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Jefferson, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Jefferson, GA
More trips to Jefferson, GA
Explore more options from Brookhaven, GA or browse trips ending in Jefferson, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.