Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
21.6 mi
35 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buford, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Springdale Estates, GA
Sami Laughlin
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.
| 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 |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 130 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~7,671 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,029 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Buford, GA and Springdale Estates, GA.
Start on this road
Turn left onto South Harris Street
Turn left onto Garnett Street
Turn right onto GA 13
Turn left onto South Lee Street
Turn left onto US 23; GA 20
Take the exit
Merge onto I 985
Merge onto I 85
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto GA 140
Turn right onto Lanier Boulevard Northwest
Arrive at destination
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.
Take the exit toward I 985 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 85
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward GA 140 West: Jimmy Carter Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward GA 140 West: Norcross
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$3.20 one way
$6.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.24 | $3.61 | $7.21 |
| premium | $4.67 | $3.97 | $7.94 |
| diesel | $5.76 | $4.90 | $9.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.6 kg one way.
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Buford on Saturday
Local time
4:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 15 at 9:18AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Destination
Afternoon in Springdale Estates on Saturday
Local time
4:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued October 15 at 9:18AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
382 ft
Total Descent
551 ft
Highest Point
1,177 ft
Elevation Range
247 ft
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
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.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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 options from Buford, GA or browse trips ending in Springdale Estates, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.
