If you are planning a trip from Cedartown to Smyrna, expect a straightforward journey covering 123.1 miles across the Southeast. You should budget approximately 2 hours and 36 minutes for the drive, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With fuel costs estimated at around $20, this trip remains an affordable transit between the two Georgia locations. The route relies on a combination of the Purple Heart Highway, Tom Murphy Freeway, and Rockmart Highway to get you to your destination. Since this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a weekend change of pace, the drive offers a practical connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61.6 miles from Cedartown, GA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Purple Heart Highway
45.3 mi
48m
Tom Murphy Freeway
22.9 mi
27m
Rockmart Highway
10.8 mi
13m
Nathan Dean Parkway
10.1 mi
12m
C H James Parkway
7.4 mi
10m
Jimmy Campbell Parkway
5.9 mi
8m
Thornton Road
3.5 mi
5m
Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
3.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Purple Heart Highway
— 45.3 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedartown, GA and Smyrna, GA.
1
Start on West Avenue
238 ft·7 sec·West Avenue
2
Turn right onto South College Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·South College Street
3
Turn right onto East Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·East Avenue
4
Continue on Rockmart Highway
6.5 mi·8 min·Rockmart Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 278; GA 6
2.8 mi·3 min·Cedartown Highway
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 278; GA 6
10 mi·12 min·Nathan Dean Parkway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 278; GA 6
4.4 mi·5 min·Rockmart Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Continue on US 278; GA 6
5.9 mi·8 min·Jimmy Campbell Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
9
Continue on US 278; GA 6; GA 120
3.4 mi·5 min·Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 278; GA 6
1.0 mi·1 min·Wendy Bagwell Parkway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 278; GA 6
7.4 mi·10 min·C H James Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Continue on US 278; GA 6
3.5 mi·5 min·Thornton Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 20 East: AtlantaUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto I 20
23 mi·27 min·Tom Murphy Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 20
45 mi·48 min·Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 113Toward GA 83: Madison, MonticelloUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto GA 83
1.5 mi·2 min·Monticello Highway
18
Turn slight right onto GA 83
0.4 mi·37 sec·GA 83
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 278; GA 12; GA 83
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
20
Turn left onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
157 ft·3 sec·Eatonton Road
21
Turn straight onto US 129; US 278; US 441; GA 12; GA 24; GA 83
2.2 mi·4 min·South Main Street
22
Continue on US 278; GA 12
3.0 mi·4 min·Greensboro Road
23
Turn right onto Buckhead Road
103 ft·2 sec·Buckhead Road
24
Arrive at destination
Buckhead Road
Trip Plan
Planning your departure is simple given the 2-hour and 36-minute duration, but keep the 123.1-mile total distance in mind when scheduling your day. Since the trip includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel if needed, keeping your $20 fuel budget on track. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the short travel time allows you to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Focus on the transition points between the Purple Heart Highway and the Tom Murphy Freeway, as these areas may require more attention during peak traffic. By pacing your single stop to fall around the midpoint of the journey, you can ensure a comfortable and efficient arrival in Smyrna.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.6 miles from Cedartown, GA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.6 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smyrna, GA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cedartown, GA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cedartown, GA
This is one driving day of about 123.1 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Cedartown, GA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Purple Heart Highway for about 45.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 115.1 — 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 College Street
Turn right onto South College Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|East Avenue
Turn right onto East Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
46.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 20 East: Atlanta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 20 East: Atlanta
5
46.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge onto I 20 / Tom Murphy Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
115.1 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Take the exit toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
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 113
Toward GA 83: Madison, Monticello
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.25 one way
$38.50 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.05
$42.10
premium
$4.70
$22.78
$45.57
diesel
$5.61
$27.18
$54.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.93
$5.91
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.77
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.23
$7.88
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cedartown, GA
Late night
in Cedartown on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smyrna, GA
Late night
in Smyrna on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Douglasville, GA
62 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2h 36m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Welcome to Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park & Preservation District where a young boy grows up in a time of segregation. He was moved by destiny to lead the modern civil rights movemen...
Today the river valley attracts us for so many reasons. Take a solitary walk to enjoy nature’s display, raft leisurely through the rocky shoals with friends, fish the misty waters as the sun comes up,...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 123.1-mile stretch. With a highway share of 41 percent, the route transitions between faster freeway speeds and more localized driving conditions. You will spend your longest uninterrupted time on the road during the 45.3-mile segment along the Purple Heart Highway. This variety keeps the drive engaging, shifting from the open flow of the Tom Murphy Freeway to the specific demands of the Rockmart Highway. Because the road character changes as you transition through the different segments, you will experience a balanced mix of high-speed cruising and standard road travel.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.3 mi on Purple Heart Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 College Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 123.1 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 College Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Cedartown, GA to Smyrna, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Monticello along the way.
Monticello
115.1 mi in|~2h 22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 123.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.3 miles on Purple Heart Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South College Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 46.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Smyrna, GA before heading back.
