Origin
Cumming, GA
Late night in Cumming on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cumming, GA to Atlanta, GA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
50m
Distance
38.9 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cumming, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlanta, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Cumming to Atlanta, you are looking at a straightforward 38.9-mile journey that typically takes about 50 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited as a quick day outing, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You will primarily navigate via the Turner McDonald Parkway, T Harvey Mathis Parkway, and the Downtown Connector to reach the heart of the city. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel is a safe bet for this direct transit. Because both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you won't experience major environmental shifts, keeping the drive simple and efficient. It is a highly practical route for travelers who value speed and direct access over leisurely wandering.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Turner McDonald Parkway | 23.5 mi | 27m |
| T Harvey Mathis Parkway | 6.8 mi | 8m |
| Downtown Connector | 3 mi | 4m |
| Northeast Expressway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Veterans Memorial Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Buford Highway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Capitol Square Southwest | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Courthouse Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Turner McDonald Parkway
— 23.5 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cumming, GA and Atlanta, GA.
1
Start on this road
40 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
2
Turn sharp left onto West Courthouse Square
482 ft
·
14 sec
·
West Courthouse Square
3
Continue on Castleberry Road
473 ft
·
12 sec
·
Castleberry Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left onto Bank Avenue
421 ft
·
21 sec
·
Bank Avenue
5
Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
Continue on GA 20
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Buford Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto US 19; GA 400
24 mi
·
27 min
·
Turner McDonald Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on GA 400
6.8 mi
·
8 min
·
T Harvey Mathis Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 85
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Northeast Expressway
11
Continue on I 75; I 85
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
288 ft
·
13 sec
·
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Southeast
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto Capitol Square Southwest
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Capitol Square Southwest
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
318 ft
·
6 sec
·
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Use the right lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Capitol Avenue Southeast
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 38.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.5 miles from Cumming, 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 38.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Courthouse Square
Turn sharp left onto West Courthouse Square
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Turn right onto Veterans Memorial Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
6
1.7 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 South
8
38.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State Capitol, Turner Field
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 248A
Toward Martin Luther King Junior Drive, State C...
7
38.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
Capitol Avenue Southeast
Turn right onto Capitol Avenue Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.08 one way
$12.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.65 | $13.30 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.59 | $17.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.08 | $1.87 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.45 | $2.49 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Atlanta, GA
Late night in Atlanta on Sunday
Local time
4:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 12:59PM EDT by NWS Greenville-Spartanburg SC
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 15 at 8:01PM 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
32 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
50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a focused highway experience, as 86% of this trip is spent on high-speed thoroughfares. The road feels like a classic commute, prioritizing efficiency as you transition from the suburbs into the urban core. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 23.5 miles along the Turner McDonald Parkway. While the drive starts with the open flow of the parkways, the character shifts as you merge onto the Downtown Connector. It is an interstate-heavy route that keeps you moving steadily toward your destination without the need for technical maneuvering or local road detours.
86% 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: 23.5 mi on Turner McDonald Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Turner McDonald Parkway and T Harvey Mathis Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Courthouse Square.
Driving Effort
7/10
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 38.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 50m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Courthouse Square): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Veterans Memorial Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,209 ft
855 ft
Total Climb
342 ft
Total Descent
511 ft
Highest Point
1,209 ft
Elevation Range
355 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Atlanta, GA
Full guide →Atlanta is the vanguard of the New South, with the charm and elegance of the Old. It's a city that balances southern traditions with sleek modernism, and southern hospitality with three skylines and the world’s busiest airport. It's a city that has been burnt to the ground and built back up; seen the horrors of war; felt the pain of droughts and floods; and given birth to Martin Luther King, Jr., the greatest figure of the civil rights movement. Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia.
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 50m. Total distance: 38.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.5 miles on Turner McDonald 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 Atlanta, 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: near the start (West Courthouse Square): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.3 miles (Veterans Memorial Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Atlanta, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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