Origin
Buford, GA
Late night in Buford on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buford, GA to Gainesville, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
18.8 mi
30 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 26m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 27m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 30m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buford, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Gainesville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Buford and Gainesville, Georgia, this 18.8-mile trip is a quick and straightforward drive. You can expect to spend about 26 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect one-day excursion. With a modest fuel cost of just $3, this route is highly efficient for those moving through the Southeast region. Because the duration is so short, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or multiple stops along the way. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a local trip, this highway-focused path provides a direct connection between the two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lanier Parkway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Queen City Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Friendship Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| McEver Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street Northeast | 1 mi | 2m |
| Peachtree Industrial Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Holiday Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Lanier Parkway
— 11.3 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buford, GA and Gainesville, GA.
1
Start on this road
26 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South Harris Street
143 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Harris Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street Northeast
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street Northeast
4
Continue on South Water Works Road Northeast
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Water Works Road Northeast
5
Turn right onto Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
6
Continue on McEver Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
McEver Road
7
Turn right onto GA 347
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Holiday Road
8
Continue on GA 347
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Friendship Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 985 North, US 23 North: Gainesville
10
Merge onto I 985; US 23
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Lanier Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Use the slight right lane.
12
At end of road, turn left onto GA 60
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Queen City Parkway
13
Turn right onto GA 60; GA 369
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest
14
Turn right onto Green Street
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Green Street
15
Arrive at destination
Green Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Harris Street
Turn right onto South Harris Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street Northeast
Turn right onto East Main Street Northeast
Navigation decision point
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Turn left toward I 985 North, US 23 North: Gainesville
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 985 North, US 23 North: Gainesville
5
4.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 985; US 23 / Lanier Parkway
Merge onto I 985; US 23 / Lanier Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
16 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.94 one way
$5.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $3.21 | $6.43 |
| premium | $4.70 | $3.48 | $6.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.15 | $8.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
| Efficient EV | 4.7 | 0 | $1.65 | $0.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Gainesville, GA
Late night in Gainesville on Sunday
Local time
3:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
26m 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 drive is defined by its reliance on major thoroughfares, with approximately 73% of the journey taking place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time navigating via Lanier Parkway, Queen City Parkway, and Friendship Road. A significant portion of your travel occurs during the 11.3-mile stretch on Lanier Parkway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of the trip. The road personality is highly practical and functional, prioritizing speed and efficiency over winding backroads. Expect a consistent, highway-focused experience that remains steady from start to finish.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.3 mi on Lanier Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Lanier Parkway and Queen City Parkway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Harris Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 18.8 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: near the start (South Harris Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (East Main Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 18.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.3 miles on Lanier Parkway. 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: near the start (South Harris Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (East Main Street Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Gainesville, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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