Origin
Cartersville, GA
Late night in Cartersville on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cartersville, GA to Sandy Springs, 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
47m
Distance
37.5 mi
60 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cartersville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Cartersville to Sandy Springs, you are looking at a straightforward 36.4-mile trip through Georgia. You can expect to complete this journey in approximately 43 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for this modest trek, which relies on a combination of local streets and I-75 South. Since both cities are located within the Southeast, you will notice a consistent regional feel throughout your travel. This drive is highly practical for those who need to commute or visit between these two hubs without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 75 | 27.8 mi | 31m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Mount Vernon Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Heards Ferry Road Northwest | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Cherokee Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Riverside Drive Northwest | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Gilmer Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 75
— 27.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cartersville, GA and Sandy Springs, GA.
1
Start on GA 293
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Cherokee Avenue
2
Turn right onto North Gilmer Street
331 ft
·
14 sec
·
North Gilmer Street
3
Turn left onto GA 61; GA 113; GA 293
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 75 South: Atlanta
5
Merge onto I 75
28 mi
·
31 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 259
Toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Birmingham, Tampa, Greenville, Augusta
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 285
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
134 ft
·
2 sec
Toward Riverside Drive
11
Turn slight right
214 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
478 ft
·
14 sec
·
Riverside Drive Northwest
13
Turn slight right onto Riverside Drive Northwest
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Riverside Drive Northwest
14
Turn right onto Heards Ferry Road Northwest
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Heards Ferry Road Northwest
15
Turn left onto Mount Vernon Highway
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Mount Vernon Highway
16
Arrive at destination
Mount Vernon Highway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.8 miles from Cartersville, 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 0.5 and 35 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
GA 61; GA 113; GA 293 / East Main Street
Turn left onto GA 61; GA 113; GA 293 / East Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 75
Merge onto I 75
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
30.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Birmingham, Tampa, Greenville, Augusta
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 259
Toward I 285 Bypass West, I 285 Bypass East: Bi...
8
31.2 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 285 East Bypass: Greenville, Augusta
7
35 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Riverside Drive
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 24
Toward Riverside Drive
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.86 one way
$11.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.94 | $13.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.28 | $16.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| Efficient EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.28 | $1.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15 | 0 | $5.25 | $2.40 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Sandy Springs, GA
Late night in Sandy Springs on Tuesday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°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
22 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
47m 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 trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, requiring you to navigate through North Gilmer Street and East Main Street before transitioning to the interstate. You will find that the route avoids the monotony of long highway hauls, as it maintains a 0% highway share for the initial local portions of your departure. Behind the wheel, you should be prepared for frequent adjustments as you move off local roads and eventually merge onto I-75 South. Because the path is composed of tight transitions rather than one long, uninterrupted stretch, it demands your attention and engagement throughout the entire 43-minute duration.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.8 mi on I 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 75 and Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near GA 61; GA 113; GA 293 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 37.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (GA 61; GA 113; GA 293 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.8 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
1,091 ft
766 ft
Total Climb
607 ft
Total Descent
283 ft
Highest Point
1,091 ft
~37.5 mi in
Elevation Range
324 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cartersville, GA and Sandy Springs, GA, road signs point toward Tampa, Greenville and Augusta.
Tampa
30.8 mi in
|
~37m
Greenville
30.8 mi in
|
~37m
Augusta
30.8 mi in
|
~37m
About the Cities
Arriving in Sandy Springs, GA
Full guide →Founded 2005
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 47m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.8 miles on I 75. 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 Sandy Springs, 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 0.5 miles (GA 61; GA 113; GA 293 / East Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles (I 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sandy Springs, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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