Origin
Covington, GA
Late night in Covington on Sunday
Local time
12:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Covington, 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
1h 26m
Distance
57 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Covington, GA
Mr. Location Scout
Gainesville, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Covington to Gainesville is 57 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via Lanier Parkway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Georgia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive, meaning you'll encounter both highway speeds and local road conditions. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time for any necessary detours or leisurely exploration upon arrival. You'll find this drive straightforward, making it a convenient option for a quick trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lanier Parkway | 15.7 mi | 16m |
| Emory Street | 13.3 mi | 22m |
| Buford Drive | 9.6 mi | 15m |
| Loganville Highway | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Grayson Highway | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| GA 81 | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Queen City Parkway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Lawrenceville Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Lanier Parkway
— 15.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, GA and Gainesville, GA.
1
Start on this road
80 ft
·
1 sec
·
this road
2
Turn straight onto Monticello Street Southwest
195 ft
·
5 sec
·
Monticello Street Southwest
3
Turn right onto Washington Street Southwest
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Washington Street Southwest
4
Turn right onto GA 81
13 mi
·
22 min
·
Emory Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on GA 81
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
GA 81
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on GA 81
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
GA 81
Use the left / right lanes.
7
Continue on GA 81
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
GA 81
8
Turn left onto US 78; GA 10; GA 81
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Atlanta Highway
9
Take the exit
373 ft
·
7 sec
Toward GA 81 North: Lawrenceville, Winder
Use the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto GA 81
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Lawrenceville Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on GA 20
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Lawrenceville Highway
12
Continue on GA 20
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Loganville Highway
13
Continue on GA 20
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Grayson Highway
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right onto GA 124
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Scenic Highway
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Jackson Street
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Jackson Street
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on GA 20; GA 124
9.6 mi
·
15 min
·
Buford Drive
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 23
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 23
Toward I 985 North
18
Merge onto I 985; US 23
16 mi
·
16 min
·
Lanier Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 20
Toward GA 60, GA 53: Candler Road, Gainesville
Use the slight right lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto GA 60
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Queen City Parkway
21
Turn right onto GA 60; GA 369
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Jesse Jewell Parkway Southwest
22
Turn right onto Green Street
36 ft
·
1 sec
·
Green Street
23
Arrive at destination
Green Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Covington, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 54.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
GA 81 / Emory Street
Turn right onto GA 81 / Emory Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
17.7 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Take the exit toward GA 81 North: Lawrenceville, Winder
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward GA 81 North: Lawrenceville, Winder
5
27.7 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
GA 124 / Scenic Highway
Turn right onto GA 124 / Scenic Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
28.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
Jackson Street
Turn left onto Jackson Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
54.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
$8.91 one way
$17.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $9.75 | $19.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.58 | $25.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
12:34 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
24 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 route offers a mixed driving experience, with 39% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches like the 15.7-mile segment on Lanier Parkway, which likely provides a more consistent, faster pace. As you transition between Lanier Parkway, Emory Street, and Buford Drive, anticipate changes in speed limits and road types, moving from more open roads to potentially busier local thoroughfares. The overall feel is a blend, so be prepared to adjust your driving style as the scenery and road conditions evolve. It’s not a pure interstate cruise, but it’s also not a winding country lane.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.7 mi on Lanier Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near GA 81 / Emory Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.2 miles (GA 81 / Emory Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.7 miles (GA 124 / Scenic Highway): 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.
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 Covington, GA to Gainesville, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Winder along the way.
Winder
17.7 mi in
|
~30m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 57 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). 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 15.7 miles on Lanier Parkway. 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 Gainesville, 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 0.2 miles (GA 81 / Emory Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 17.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.7 miles (GA 124 / Scenic Highway): 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. 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
Continue From Gainesville, GA
More trips to Gainesville, GA
Explore more options from Covington, GA or browse trips ending in Gainesville, GA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse GA road trips.