Origin
Dacula, GA
Morning in Dacula on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dacula, 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
41m
Distance
31.4 mi
51 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dacula, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Dacula to Sandy Springs is a straightforward 31.4-mile trip that typically takes about 36 minutes under normal conditions. You will navigate through the Southeast region, transitioning from the outskirts of Dacula to the Sandy Springs area using a combination of University Parkway, I-85 South, and I-285 West. Because the entire journey is easily manageable in a single day, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $5, this is a highly economical route for commuters or weekend travelers. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that serves as a reliable link between these two Georgia locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| University Parkway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| I 85 | 9 mi | 9m |
| Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Winder Highway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Roswell Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| US 19 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mount Vernon Highway | <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 Sandy Springs, 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
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Atlanta Bypass / The Perimeter
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
518 ft
·
12 sec
Exit 25; 27B
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
this road
Exit 25
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
US 19
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto GA 9
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Roswell Road
Use the right lane.
12
Turn right onto Mount Vernon Highway
180 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mount Vernon Highway
13
Arrive at destination
Mount Vernon Highway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 30.4 — 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
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
29 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
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 25; 27B
Toward US 19 South, GA 400 North: Roswell Road,...
8
30.4 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
US 19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19 toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 19 South: Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.91 one way
$9.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.37 | $10.74 |
| premium | $4.70 | $5.81 | $11.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.93 | $13.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.30 | $1.51 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.75 | $1.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.40 | $2.01 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Sandy Springs, GA
Morning in Sandy Springs on Tuesday
Local time
6:34 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
41m 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 turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you navigate through the transition from suburban roads to major interstate arteries. While the route utilizes I-85 South and I-285 West, it is categorized as a local drive rather than a long-haul highway grind. You will find that there is no significant uninterrupted highway stretch on this path, as the nature of the roads demands frequent adjustments. The drive shifts character quickly, moving from the local feel of University Parkway into the more complex interchanges of the interstate system. Be prepared for a dynamic experience behind the wheel where the road environment changes constantly over the course of the 31.4-mile distance.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 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?
10/10
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
10/10
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 31.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 41m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 22.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Sandy Springs, 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 →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 41m. Total distance: 31.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). 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 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 12.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 22.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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