Buford, GA to Springdale Estates, GA is 21.6 miles and takes about 28 minutes via I 85 and Lanier Parkway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily in Georgia. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit or a leisurely afternoon drive, offering a straightforward path between two points without requiring extensive planning or an overnight stay. You'll find it a practical option for local travel.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 85
13.6 mi
14m
Lanier Parkway
3.5 mi
3m
South Lee Street
1.1 mi
2m
South Harris Street
0.7 mi
1m
Buford Highway Northeast
0.5 mi
<1m
Jimmy Carter Boulevard
0.5 mi
<1m
Lanier Boulevard Northwest
0.5 mi
1m
Buford Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 85
— 13.6 mi, about 14m
Traffic on I-85
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 65 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~7,674 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,027 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buford, GA and Springdale Estates, GA.
1
Start on this road
26 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Harris Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Harris Street
3
Turn left onto Garnett Street
408 ft·13 sec·Garnett Street
4
Turn right onto GA 13
0.5 mi·53 sec·Buford Highway Northeast
5
Turn left onto South Lee Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South Lee Street
6
Turn left onto US 23; GA 20
0.4 mi·51 sec·Buford Drive
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 985 SouthUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 985
3.5 mi·3 min·Lanier Parkway
9
Merge onto I 85
6.6 mi·7 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
7.0 mi·7 min·I 85
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 99Toward GA 140 West: Jimmy Carter BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
279 ft·6 sec
Toward GA 140 West: NorcrossUse the right lane.
13
Turn straight onto GA 140
0.5 mi·50 sec·Jimmy Carter Boulevard
14
Turn right onto Lanier Boulevard Northwest
0.5 mi·1 min·Lanier Boulevard Northwest
15
Arrive at destination
Lanier Boulevard Northwest
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.8 and 20.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 985 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 985 South
5
6.7 mi into trip|~10m in|I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.3 mi into trip|~17m in|I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
20.3 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward GA 140 West: Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 99
Toward GA 140 West: Jimmy Carter Boulevard
8
20.5 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward GA 140 West: Norcross
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward GA 140 West: Norcross
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.44 one way
$6.87 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg8 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$3.75
$7.49
premium
$4.78
$4.06
$8.13
diesel
$5.35
$4.55
$9.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging
· 0 stops
· 63% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
6.5
0
$2.27
$1.04
Efficient EV
5.4
0
$1.89
$0.86
EV Truck/SUV
8.6
0
$3.02
$1.38
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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 May 10, 2026
Origin
Buford, GA
Evening
in Buford on Wednesday
Local time
5:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:57AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:47AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
Destination
Springdale Estates, GA
Evening
in Springdale Estates on Wednesday
Local time
5:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:57AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 10 at 5:47AM EDT by NWS Peachtree City GA
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
28m 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?
This drive is mostly highway, with 79% of the 21.6 miles on freeways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 13.6 miles on I 85. The highway portion will likely involve merging traffic and numerous exits typical of interstate travel before transitioning to surface roads like Lanier Parkway and South Lee Street for the final stretch. Expect a change in pace as you leave the interstate.
79% 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: 13.6 mi on I 85.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 85 and Lanier Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 21.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 28m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 21.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.6 miles on I 85. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Springdale Estates, 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 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 85): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Springdale Estates, GA before heading back.
