Origin
Buchanan, GA
Late night in Buchanan on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buchanan, GA to Atlanta, 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 7m
Distance
56.2 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buchanan, GA
Pitt Rom
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Buchanan into Atlanta, you are looking at a straightforward 56.2-mile journey through the Southeast. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 7 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget roughly $9 for fuel to complete the transit. Because the route is highly efficient, you will spend the vast majority of your time on major corridors rather than winding backroads. Whether you are commuting or heading into the city for a quick visit, this drive is designed for speed and convenience rather than a leisurely pace.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Murphy Freeway | 45.2 mi | 50m |
| US 27 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| GA 120 | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Park Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Rawson Street Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Memorial Drive Southwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue Southwest | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Avenue Southeast | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Tom Murphy Freeway
— 45.2 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buchanan, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on this road
301 ft
·
27 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Van Wert Street
259 ft
·
16 sec
·
Van Wert Street
3
Turn left onto GA 120
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
GA 120
4
Take the ramp
122 ft
·
4 sec
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto US 27; GA 1
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
US 27; GA 1
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 27; GA 1
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
North Park Street
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 20 East
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 20
45 mi
·
50 min
·
Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 56B
Toward Windsor Street, Ted Turner Drive, State Farm Arena
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto Rawson Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Rawson Street Southwest
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto Central Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Central Avenue Southwest
12
Turn right onto Memorial Drive Southwest
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Memorial Drive Southwest
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 28.1 miles from Buchanan, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 55.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 27; GA 1
Merge onto US 27; GA 1
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 20 East
8
55 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Street, Ted Turner Drive, State Farm Arena
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 56B
Toward Windsor Street, Ted Turner Drive, State...
6
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Rawson Street Southwest
Keep slight left at fork onto Rawson Street Southwest
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
Memorial Drive Southwest
Turn right onto Memorial Drive Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.79 one way
$17.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.40 | $20.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.41 | $24.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.90 | $2.70 |
| Efficient EV | 14.1 | 0 | $4.92 | $2.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.5 | 0 | $7.87 | $3.60 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Atlanta, GA
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Douglasville, GA
28 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
5 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 7m 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 is a highway-focused drive where 97% of your time will be spent on high-speed roads. You will rely primarily on the Tom Murphy Freeway, US 27, and GA 120 to navigate the transition from Buchanan to the metro area. The most significant portion of your trip consists of a 45.2-mile stretch on the Tom Murphy Freeway, which allows for consistent speeds. Expect a predictable experience that prioritizes directness over technical or scenic detours. Once you clear the initial local roads, the drive settles into a monotonous but efficient interstate rhythm.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.2 mi on Tom Murphy Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Tom Murphy Freeway and US 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 27; GA 1.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 56.2 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.8 miles (US 27; GA 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 55 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,268 ft
919 ft
Total Climb
445 ft
Total Descent
650 ft
Highest Point
1,268 ft
~8 mi in
Elevation Range
349 ft
About the Cities
Arriving 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 7m. Total distance: 56.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.2 miles on Tom Murphy Freeway. 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 Atlanta, 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 0.8 miles (US 27; GA 1): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 55 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Atlanta, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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