Origin
Dacula, GA
Morning in Dacula on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dacula, GA to Dunwoody, 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
40m
Distance
28.7 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dacula, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Dunwoody, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 28.7-mile drive from Dacula, GA to Dunwoody, GA takes about 40 minutes and is perfect for a single-day trip. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 67% of it on major roadways, making it a quick and efficient journey. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is a very budget-friendly excursion. You'll be staying within the Southeast region throughout this drive, so no significant regional changes are expected. This trip is ideal for a quick commute or an easy afternoon excursion without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Parkway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| I 85 | 9 mi | 9m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Winder Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Chamblee Dunwoody Road | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| North Shallowford Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Cotillion Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Chamblee Dunwoody Way | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
University Parkway
— 10.3 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dacula, GA and Dunwoody, GA.
1
Start on US 29 Business; GA 8
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Winder Highway
2
Turn right onto GA 316; US 29; GA 8
10 mi
·
14 min
·
University Parkway
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
4
Merge onto I 85
9.0 mi
·
9 min
·
I 85
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 95B
Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 285
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 30
Toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Cotillion Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cotillion Drive
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto North Shallowford Road
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Shallowford Road
11
Continue on Chamblee Dunwoody Way
404 ft
·
11 sec
·
Chamblee Dunwoody Way
12
Continue on Chamblee Dunwoody Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Chamblee Dunwoody Road
13
Turn left
90 ft
·
2 sec
Use the left lane.
14
Turn right
79 ft
·
5 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 25.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
12.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 85 South: Atlanta
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 85 South: Atlanta
5
13.1 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 85
Merge onto I 85
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
22.1 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingham
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 95B
Toward I 285 West Bypass: Chattanooga, Birmingh...
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 285 West: Chattanooga, Birmingham
8
25.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford Road, Chamblee-Dunwoody Road
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 30
Toward North Peachtree Road, North Shallowford...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.49 one way
$8.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.31 | $10.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.34 | $12.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Dunwoody, GA
Morning in Dunwoody on Tuesday
Local time
8:22 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
40m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 40-minute drive. Approximately 67% of the route utilizes major highways, including University Parkway and I-85, which means you'll encounter faster speeds and less local traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.3 miles on University Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, you will transition onto Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter, which can have varying traffic conditions as you approach Dunwoody. This drive is characterized by its efficiency rather than scenic detours.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.3 mi on University Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on University Parkway and I 85. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in.
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 10 decision points packed into just 28.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.1 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Dacula, GA to Dunwoody, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Birmingham along the way.
Birmingham
22.1 mi in
|
~27m
About the Cities
Starting in Dacula, GA
Full guide →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 40m. Total distance: 28.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10.3 miles on University 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 Dunwoody, 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 12.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 13.1 miles (I 85): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Dunwoody, 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.
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