Origin
Decatur, GA
Morning in Decatur on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Decatur, GA to Marietta, 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
37m
Distance
24.3 mi
39 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 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 40m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Decatur, GA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 25.3-mile drive from Decatur to Marietta, Georgia, is easily manageable within a single day, taking approximately 39 minutes. The route primarily utilizes local roads like East Ponce de Leon Avenue and Moreland Avenue Northeast, meaning you won't encounter any highway driving. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $4, this trip is budget-friendly. Given its brief duration and turn-heavy nature, it's perfect for a quick excursion or an add-on to another adventure within the Southeast region. Consider this a straightforward local transit rather than a destination-focused road trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Horace E Tate Freeway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| Larry McDonald Memorial Highway | 7 mi | 8m |
| North Avenue Northeast | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Ponce de Leon Avenue Northeast | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| North Marietta Parkway | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Downtown Connector | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| East Ponce de Leon Avenue | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Church Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Horace E Tate Freeway
— 7.2 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Decatur, GA and Marietta, GA.
1
Start on this road
287 ft
·
26 sec
·
this road
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Ponce de Leon Avenue
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Ponce de Leon Avenue
3
Continue on US 23; US 29; US 78; GA 8
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Ponce de Leon Avenue Northeast
4
Turn left onto US 23; GA 42
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Moreland Avenue Northeast
5
Turn right onto North Avenue Northeast
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
North Avenue Northeast
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn left onto Spring Street Northwest
477 ft
·
11 sec
·
Spring Street Northwest
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 75; I 85
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Downtown Connector
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Horace E Tate Freeway
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 75
7.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Larry McDonald Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 265
Toward GA 120 Alternate: North Marietta Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto GA 120 ALT
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Marietta Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto Church Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Church Street
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
West Park Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 21.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Ponce de Leon Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto East Ponce de Leon Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
5.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Spring Street Northwest
Turn left onto Spring Street Northwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp toward I 75 North, I 85 North
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 75 North, I 85 North
8
7.4 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 75 / Horace E Tate Freeway toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 75 North: Marietta, Chattanooga
7
21.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward GA 120 Alternate: North Marietta Parkway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 265
Toward GA 120 Alternate: North Marietta Parkway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.80 one way
$7.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $4.15 | $8.31 |
| premium | $4.70 | $4.50 | $8.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.37 | $10.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.17 |
| Efficient EV | 6.1 | 0 | $2.13 | $0.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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.
Destination
Marietta, GA
Morning in Marietta on Tuesday
Local time
9:00 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
1 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
37m 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 on this route, with zero highway share. The journey is characterized by frequent intersections and changes in direction as you navigate through urban and suburban landscapes. There isn't a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving to speak of, as the nature of the route keeps you engaged with city streets. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaged experience on well-traveled local roads, requiring your attention for navigation and traffic.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.2 mi on Horace E Tate Freeway.
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 0.1 miles in near East Ponce de Leon Avenue.
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 10 decision points packed into just 24.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Ponce de Leon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (Spring Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 miles: 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 Decatur, GA to Marietta, GA, road signs begin pointing toward Chattanooga along the way.
Chattanooga
7.4 mi in
|
~15m
|
via I 75
About the Cities
Starting in Decatur, GA
Full guide →Decatur is a city that, despite being somewhat isolated from the rest of Atlanta, is so close to Georgia's state capital as to not really be separate. While Atlanta is an international city with corporate headquarters, world class convention facilities, and a fast pace, Decatur has retained a small city feel and a slightly slower pace. However, Decatur is closer to Atlanta's business, retail and cultural destinations than many of Atlanta's neighborhoods, so it can easily be mistaken for an in-town neighborhood of Atlanta.
Arriving in Marietta, GA
Full guide →Founded 1834
Marietta is a city of 61,000 people (2019) in Metro Atlanta. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Dobbins Air Reserve Base on the south side of town and a Lockheed Martin manufacturing plant are among the major industries in the city.
Top landmarks
- • Marietta National Cemetery — veterans cemetery in Cobb County, Georgia, United States
- • Aviation History & Technology Center — museum in Marietta, Georgia, USA
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 37m. Total distance: 24.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). 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 7.2 miles on Horace E Tate Freeway. 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 Marietta, 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 0.1 miles (East Ponce de Leon Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.9 miles (Spring Street Northwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 6 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 Marietta, 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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